Jeez what a supercow? Did anyone else feel a bit 'odd' about this programme?
i don't think I'll ever read one of her books again.
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Enid Blyton
Sex God
It was certainly a revealing portrait - the drama biography thing with Helena Bonham Carter do you mean?
Sex God
Oh Enid's a magnificently famous old racist...
I remember her describing, in one of her books, the Welsh as illiterate cave-dwellers who spoke in grunts and were barely above the level of a beast. We had an assembly in school about it when I was a kid.
I missed the show though, will have to catch it hopefully on I-player. Is it worth it?
It does add an almost sinister tone to some of her books though and it does make you feel a bit odd really. A bit like finding out Roger Hargreaves was a woman-hater or that Roald Dahl a closet Nazi. I think you read them slightly differently and notice the odd word and phrase here and there which makes you think "What did she mean by that?"
I remember her describing, in one of her books, the Welsh as illiterate cave-dwellers who spoke in grunts and were barely above the level of a beast. We had an assembly in school about it when I was a kid.
I missed the show though, will have to catch it hopefully on I-player. Is it worth it?
It does add an almost sinister tone to some of her books though and it does make you feel a bit odd really. A bit like finding out Roger Hargreaves was a woman-hater or that Roald Dahl a closet Nazi. I think you read them slightly differently and notice the odd word and phrase here and there which makes you think "What did she mean by that?"
Sex God
Defo worth it - seriously. Her parenting skills were a bit shocking!
I remember Enid's books from when I was a boy, famous five, noddy, the magic faraway tree. She was an excellent author of children's books, and there is nothing to stop them continuing to be bedtime story favourites for years to come. Reading through some of the comments here I get the impression that they will be banned (if they are not already) from school bookshelves. While of course our infants are taught about all the different kinds of sexual practices!
Yes we are indeed making huge strides in Great Britain today! :0(
Yes we are indeed making huge strides in Great Britain today! :0(
Sex God
No No, Brighton, it's not that they will be banned. Not at all.
Her books are, mainly, absolutely fine. It's just that when you know about her background, beliefs and whatnot, you tend to read things into the books more than perhaps you should. Which perhaps you shouldn't do, but I think its human nature at times.
My wife's got tonnes of her books here and the kids enjoy them when she reads to them. There's no way her books will ever be banned I don't think, there would be a huge outcry if anyone even suggested it.
I mean, if you can still get a copy of "Mein Kampf", "Five Go to Bludgely Wood" is hardly going to register on the scale of offence is it? It wasn't that she was offensive in her books at all, just that her views in general were a bit of an eye opener for some.
Her books are, mainly, absolutely fine. It's just that when you know about her background, beliefs and whatnot, you tend to read things into the books more than perhaps you should. Which perhaps you shouldn't do, but I think its human nature at times.
My wife's got tonnes of her books here and the kids enjoy them when she reads to them. There's no way her books will ever be banned I don't think, there would be a huge outcry if anyone even suggested it.
I mean, if you can still get a copy of "Mein Kampf", "Five Go to Bludgely Wood" is hardly going to register on the scale of offence is it? It wasn't that she was offensive in her books at all, just that her views in general were a bit of an eye opener for some.
Quote by Resonance
No No, Brighton, it's not that they will be banned. Not at all.
Her books are, mainly, absolutely fine. It's just that when you know about her background, beliefs and whatnot, you tend to read things into the books more than perhaps you should. Which perhaps you shouldn't do, but I think its human nature at times.
My wife's got tonnes of her books here and the kids enjoy them when she reads to them. There's no way her books will ever be banned I don't think, there would be a huge outcry if anyone even suggested it.
I mean, if you can still get a copy of "Mein Kampf", "Five Go to Bludgely Wood" is hardly going to register on the scale of offence is it? It wasn't that she was offensive in her books at all, just that her views in general were a bit of an eye opener for some.
I didn't mean banned as in totally like the golly, I meant in schools. Anything that is thought to be offensive to anyone, (except White straight English) has more or less been banned in schools already. I remember in 1990 my eldest arriving home from his first day at nursery school singling "Baah baah White sheep", my mothering law at the time had a Rastafarian boyfriend and I remember him saying it was ridiculous. He wanted to know how many black sheep would be offended because as a black man he certainly wasn't, or were they insinuating he was some kind of sheep? The school of couse had no comment when challenged.
This rubbish all starts at that age Res, while the children are at their most receptive. I believe they are brainwashing our children and have been for over 20 years.
Sex God
Quote by BrightonGeezer
No No, Brighton, it's not that they will be banned. Not at all.
Her books are, mainly, absolutely fine. It's just that when you know about her background, beliefs and whatnot, you tend to read things into the books more than perhaps you should. Which perhaps you shouldn't do, but I think its human nature at times.
My wife's got tonnes of her books here and the kids enjoy them when she reads to them. There's no way her books will ever be banned I don't think, there would be a huge outcry if anyone even suggested it.
I mean, if you can still get a copy of "Mein Kampf", "Five Go to Bludgely Wood" is hardly going to register on the scale of offence is it? It wasn't that she was offensive in her books at all, just that her views in general were a bit of an eye opener for some.
I didn't mean banned as in totally like the golly, I meant in schools. Anything that is thought to be offensive to anyone, (except White straight English) has more or less been banned in schools already. I remember in 1990 my eldest arriving home from his first day at nursery school singling "Baah baah White sheep", my mothering law at the time had a Rastafarian boyfriend and I remember him saying it was ridiculous. He wanted to know how many black sheep would be offended because as a black man he certainly wasn't, or were they insinuating he was some kind of sheep? The school of couse had no comment when challenged.
This rubbish all starts at that age Res, while the children are at their most receptive. I believe they are brainwashing our children and have been for over 20 years.
Not the old Baa baa blacksheep chestnut, tell me you didn't ,go on please, you didn't did you ??
Quote by Staggerlee_BB
Not the old Baa baa blacksheep chestnut, tell me you didn't ,go on please, you didn't did you ??
I have heard this story so many times that it must have been banned in every school in the UK. I used to sing it in my school and my kids have sung it in theirs. I must be associated with the only two schools that didn't ban it
Dave_Notts
Sex God
Quote by Dave__Notts
Not the old Baa baa blacksheep chestnut, tell me you didn't ,go on please, you didn't did you ??
I have heard this story so many times that it must have been banned in every school in the UK. I used to sing it in my school and my kids have sung it in theirs. I must be associated with the only two schools that didn't ban it
Dave_Notts
The only researched version of this one I've ever come across was in Private Eye...when asked the nursery in question explained that the kids also sang baa baa blue/red/green/etc. sheep and that they used the song to teach the names of colours
Sex God
Quote by Ms_Whips
i loved enid's books and grew up on them. from noddy to the wishing chair and the far away tree. at christmas i always asked for her books. my mates all thought i was mad but i've always spent a mass of my time reading.
i wanted to see the program about her but don't have freeview.
whips
should be online now on BBC iPlayer.
One of my fondest memories of my late mother is when she used to take little 4 year old Brighton Geezer up the apples and pears to Beddington, and read me a chapter from from the hardback Magic Faraway Tree. I could really imagine the giant tree with all the characters that lived on it, and all the different fruits it bore.
Anyone can write stories that children will find amusing, but Enid really captured the imagination. She was both clever and unique, the best at what she did. I would hate to think that some perception of what she might have believed all those years ago, would prevent youngsters from being encouraged to read her books.
Leave the political crap to us boring unimaginative adults!
Anyone can write stories that children will find amusing, but Enid really captured the imagination. She was both clever and unique, the best at what she did. I would hate to think that some perception of what she might have believed all those years ago, would prevent youngsters from being encouraged to read her books.
Leave the political crap to us boring unimaginative adults!
I don't think Ive read any childrens books (as a child) other tha Narnia and Caspian, and they were frankly rather dodgy.
I even had to buy them myself from the school bookclub on the proceeds from the sale of black-market bubblegum and amphetemine.
When my parents found out they were furious.
Dad hadn't been able to explain his withdrawal symptons and was suffering really rather badly on the effects of tootling baking soda.
I was banned from reading until I left home at thirty eight. A glorious day.
so tell me, have I missed much?
seriously, I never indulged in Kid-Lit, is/was it really any good.. or just those middle class types with boats and holidays?
lp
I even had to buy them myself from the school bookclub on the proceeds from the sale of black-market bubblegum and amphetemine.
When my parents found out they were furious.
Dad hadn't been able to explain his withdrawal symptons and was suffering really rather badly on the effects of tootling baking soda.
I was banned from reading until I left home at thirty eight. A glorious day.
so tell me, have I missed much?
seriously, I never indulged in Kid-Lit, is/was it really any good.. or just those middle class types with boats and holidays?
lp
Sex God
I'm quite sorry I opened this thread. 
This, for me, is one fine example of ignorance being bliss.
I've just read the Faraway Tree series again this year and I thoroughly enjoyed them second time round. I read all her books when I was young and picked up no references to anything vaguely resembling racism then. Having read some again recently I still didn't pick up any racism, just a really good bunch of stories that took me on a lovely trip down memory lane. Perhaps I just don't see it because I don't think that way.
I won't be watching the documentary... I'll continue to live in ignorance and be glad that Enid Blyton will still be the legend she was in my head thank you very much! :thumbup:
This, for me, is one fine example of ignorance being bliss.
I've just read the Faraway Tree series again this year and I thoroughly enjoyed them second time round. I read all her books when I was young and picked up no references to anything vaguely resembling racism then. Having read some again recently I still didn't pick up any racism, just a really good bunch of stories that took me on a lovely trip down memory lane. Perhaps I just don't see it because I don't think that way.
I won't be watching the documentary... I'll continue to live in ignorance and be glad that Enid Blyton will still be the legend she was in my head thank you very much! :thumbup:
I had not expected her to have had such artistic temperament. But it goes with the territory. I just wonder if the thinking needed to write the stories affected her somehow. Its not easy work writing or being creative. I think she must have had fun writing but was not able to do so otherwise.
