The off-limits area of libraries also contains books that have been removed due to staff or customer complaints – such as the autobiography of previously-incarcerated Tommy Robinson, the founder of the far-right English Defence League.īlyton composed more than 700 books, including beloved titles like The Famous Five series and Noddy, from the late 1930s until she died in 1968.īut publishing house Hodder confirmed in 2010 that Blyton’s works would be refreshed in order to make them ‘timeless’. The documents say that where popular titles contain “increasingly outdated” language, libraries purchase new, edited versions. It was explained that Library Unlimited – which runs the council’s library service – regularly audits books, replacing them with altered versions. The changes were revealed in Devon County Council documents. The original versions are catalogued online and if a reader chooses to access one, a warning system will remind them of the language used within the older editions. If a reader requests an original version of titles like The Famous Five, they will be shown a verbal trigger warning, according to the Telegraph. Recently edited works are displayed publicly across Devon’s libraries but tales which have not yet been amended are not so easy to access. MailOnline has more.Įnid Blyton’s classic novels are beloved globally but some of her works have been rewritten to remove ‘outdated’ language.Īnd uncensored versions are being placed in “off-limit storage spaces” in libraries to prevent the public from “stumbling upon” the old wording. Unlike most of Enid Blyton's books though, the stories lack imagination and spark, and are certainly weaker than, for instance, the Amelia Jane books, and certainly (admittedly aimed at slightly older children) the Wishing Chair and Faraway Tree books.Enid Blyton is the latest beloved children’s author to be censored by the wokies – although, the censorship may have been going on for some time. My children certainly did not make any link from the golliwogs to any real people, black or white, so I think overall probably the censoring was unnecessary and overly sensitive. 'all black people look the same'), as the golliwogs share a birthday - perhaps they are identical triplets? It is, however, boring and repetitive. Although this is not in itself necessarily racist (i.e. The collection of short stories all have the same essential plot - confusion is caused by everyone mistaking the three golliwogs for the same person. Reading as an adult, it is easy to see why this book is perceived as racist. This is an old edition with the original cover and illustrations - it is now 'rebranded' as 'The Three Bold Pixies" due to the perceived racism of the pictures and content. In general, they are not too bad, and the kids like them. I have been reading a few Enid Blyton books to my young children, and of course read these a lot/was read to a lot as a child myself. Clare's.Īccording to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St.
Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.īlyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters.
She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. Enid Mary Blyton (1897 - 1968) was an English author of children's books.īorn in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading.
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