Revisiting Enid Blyton

In the last few weeks I have been reading the favourite author of my childhood-Enid Blyton- all over again. Specifically, I have been reading the series on the Five Find outers and the Dog. The titles that I have hungrily devoured include The Mystery of the Disappearing Cat; The Mystery of the Pantomime Cat; The Mystery of Tally Ho Cottage; The Mystery of the Strange Bundle and The Mystery of the Spiteful Letters.

The principal characters in the story are five children comprising Frederick Algernon Trottevile (Fatty); and two brother- sister duos—Pip & Bets and Larry & Daisy. Giving the children company in all their mysteries is Fatty’s dog Buster. Fatty is of course the brains of the group with Bets occasionally supplying some inspiration. The children are in constant competition with the local policeman- Mr Goon- who says clear orf by instinct on seeing the children. He feels that they are constantly interfering with the law and refers to Fatty as a toad of a boy. Buster also has taken a fancy for Goon’s ankles and has a go at them every time he sees them. Mercifully, no harm is done as Fatty calls him off each time but not before everyone has had their quota of fun.

In between solving mysteries the five find outers and dog munch on ice creams, scones, sandwiches, potted meat and drink lemonade. Reading these books acts as a tranquilizer as the stories are fun, pacy but not fast enough to get the adrenaline flowing.

Now as a child I enjoyed reading the children’s fights with Mr Goon. I loved it when Buster pranced around his ankles or Fatty led the policeman on a merry-go-round in one of his numerous disguises. As an adult, I cannot help thinking that perhaps Mr Goon was right after all about the “interfering with the law” bit. Further, does being amateur detectives really give Fatty the licence to lead ‘Goon on a dance’ or plant false clues. Even more strange is the attitude of Goon’s superior—Inspector Jenks who rises to become a superintendent during the series of books. He openly sides with the children in their fights with Goon. Granted Goon is not the brightest of policemen but surely his superior cannot be seen to be siding with his rivals ?

These are of course adult thoughts that intrude about books that are essentially written for children. Even as one sympathises with Goon, one cannot help enjoying the book which acts as an anodyne in a stressed world and brings back warm memories of childhood. Here is a treasure trove for children but are enough of them reading Enid Blyton in an era in which it is more fashionable for even kids to surf the Internet ? The answer to that question will determine whether the appeal of the Five Findouters and their dog lingers on to this day.