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New censorship target for "sensitivity readers"

<p>Enid Blyton is known around the world, across all generations, as the author behind the children’s classics <em>The Magic Faraway Tree</em>, <em>The Adventures of the Wishing Tree</em>, <em>Noddy</em>, and <em>The Famous Five</em>. </p> <p>And now, the late Blyton is also known as the latest author to face edits and rewrites at the hands of her publisher, Hodder Children’s Books. They have confirmed that they will be carrying out the work to remove “offensive terms” as part of their “ongoing process”. </p> <p>Such changes have made the news already in 2023 - people had a lot to say about proposed edits to Roald Dahl’s books. Edits like those to Dahl’s work, dubbed by critics as “woke”, see publishers rewriting older texts after feedback from sensitivity readers, and removing certain terms that are deemed to be offensive to modern audiences. </p> <p>According to a report by <em>The Australian</em>, an audiobook version of one of <em>The Famous Five</em> books, a collection of short stories, has undergone edits to remove the words “idiot”, “a**”, and “shut up”.</p> <p>One story sees cousins Julian, Dick, George, Anne, and their canine companion Timmy, investigate lights on the island - Kirrin Island - by George’s home. In a bid to get their adventure started, George wakes her cousin Anne, and Anne tells her “oh George, don’t be an a**.”</p> <p>In the new edition, Anne simply says “oh George.” </p> <p>Meanwhile, in the original text, Anne’s big brother - and George’s cousin - Julian, at one point tells George to “shut up” and “be sensible”. Now, Julian only tells her “George, be sensible.” </p> <p>Additionally, two other instances of characters being told “don’t be an idiot” have been removed.</p> <p>Those particular phrases still feature in a Hodder Children’s Books e-book version of the text, though “a**” remains unseen, substituted in this case with “idiot”. </p> <p>The publishing house previously faced backlash in 2010 when they put out “contemporary” adaptations of Blyton’s books, replacing the likes of “headmistress” with “teacher”.</p> <p>These revisions were seemingly put to rest when Hodder Children’s Books declared that they weren’t working. </p> <p>“The feedback we have had six years on shows that the love for The Famous Five remains intact, and changing mother to mummy, pullover to jumper, was not required,” Anne McNeil, their publishing director, explained to The Guardian in 2016. “We want Enid Blyton’s legacy to go on. Millions of readers have learned to read with her.”</p> <p>However, as a 2023 statement reads, the publisher’s parent company - Hachette UK - consider the edit of Blyton’s books to be an “ongoing process”, as part of their “intention to keep Enid Blyton’s books and stories at the heart of every childhood, as they have been for generations.” </p> <p>“To do so, we work to ensure that there are no offensive terms in the books - changing words where the definition is unclear in context and therefore the usage is confusing, and where words have been used in an inappropriate or offensive sense - while retaining the original language as far as is possible,” a spokesperson for the company said. “This enables a very wide international audience of children to enjoy the books, while also understanding that they were written and set in the past.</p> <p>“In new editions, we do not change language for the sake of modernising it. We retain old-fashioned terms such as ‘bathing-suit’ and references to pre-decimal currency. The books’ period setting is part of their charm and is enjoyed by readers of all ages.</p> <p>“Any historic changes previously made to new editions, which come under the category of ‘modernisation’ in this context, have been or are being restored to the original text at the point of reprint.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Couple find each other by chance after 62 years apart

<p><span>Former sweethearts who were separated by war and circumstance have reunited after meeting by chance 62 years later.</span></p> <p><span>In 1939, Eric Tweedsdale, 96, and Enid Bradshaw, 94, first met at Merrylands RSL in Sydney, where they were both part of a youth group.</span></p> <p><span>The duo’s love blossomed, and the pair got engaged but during the war, Eric was sent away for four years to the navy and things cooled off.</span></p> <p><span>They each went their separate ways and went on to marry and have children.</span></p> <p><span>In 2004, Eric and Enid both received invitations to a youth group reunion by mutual friends held in the location where their love story first began, Merrylands RSL.</span></p> <p><span>“There were six of us left from the youth group and our friends organised for Enid to wait at the big clock at Central Station for someone to meet her to get the train into Merrylands RSL and I offered as I was travelling by train [from the Central Coast],” Eric told </span><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/couple-find-each-other-by-chance-after-62-years-apart/news-story/9063db561e116ba807f00a371b8d1876" target="_blank"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Daily Telegraph.</span></strong></em></a></p> <p><span>“We knew each other straight away even after 62 years. She was still a blonde — but a slightly different tone of blonde — and she still had those lovely big blue eyes.</span></p> <p><span>“She was a beautiful girl and I thought she looked even more beautiful at 80-odd years young.”</span></p> <p><span>“It was a complete surprise to see Eric after all those years of having no contact at all,” Enid said.</span></p> <p><span>“We had a cup of coffee, chatted about the time that had passed and ended up missing our train.</span></p> <p><span>“While we stayed in touch following the reunion, it was a few years down the track before we became close once again.”</span></p> <p><span>After years of staying in touch, their romance resurfaced when Enid moved to Cooinda Village retirement facility, not far from Eric’s home in Ettalong on the Central Coast of NSW.</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span><img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267329/1_500x375.jpg" alt="1 (80)"/></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Image credit: Mark Scott</em></p> <p><span>Now, Eric and Enid are making amends for all their lost time and living only 40 footsteps from one another in self-care units at Peninsula Village in Umina.</span></p> <p><span>“We are very thankful that they accommodated us here at the village so close to each other,” Enid said.</span></p> <p><span>“We’ve been here for just over six months and enjoy the fantastic activities and social side of being in a residential village, close to family and friends."</span></p> <p><span>Enid added, “We decided to have our own units, with our own things, but spend lots of valuable time with one another, talking about our time apart and the times we had together when we were young.</span></p> <p><span>“Ours is a most unusual story with a happy ending. We not only spend time reminiscing, but look forward to the days ahead with keen anticipation.”</span></p> <p><span>Eric concluded, “We both believe it was just meant to be."</span></p> <p><span>Eric enjoyed a successful sports career, now being the oldest living Australian Wallabies rugby union player.</span></p> <p><span>Enid established for herself a career as a published author and an award-winning artist. </span></p>

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7 important lessons Enid Blyton taught us

<p>Enid Blyton. Like all the greatest children’s book authors – Dahl, Seuss, Rowling – you only need to say her name to conjure up fantastic, vivid imagery, and can easily dive into a discussion with just about anyone over which series is the best (personally, I preferred her magical worlds of <em>The Magic Faraway Tree, The Wishing Chair,</em> and <em>Noddy</em> but I also loved <em>The Naughtiest Girl</em>). Ms Blyton’s writing is a childhood touchstone for so many of us, and as with all good children’s culture, it taught without being prescriptive or boring – you probably didn’t even notice that you were learning as you read. In which case, let’s take a look back at some of the things Enid Blyton taught us through her writing.</p> <p><strong>1. Teamwork makes the dream work</strong></p> <p>There are very few, if any, Blyton stories that don’t lean heavily on the positive power of working together with friends or siblings. Every time there was a crisis to handle, or a mystery to solve, a band of Blyton’s best were there, working together to save the day.</p> <p><strong>2. Friendships aren’t always immediate</strong></p> <p>Some of Blyton’s merry groups of friends appeared fully formed and ready for adventure, but occasional newcomers would appear from time to time, and show us that friendships don’t always happen right away, but if you give someone a chance, they could become a wonderful addition to your life, so don’t rush to make judgements.</p> <p>Defining quote: “’You simply never know about people,’ thought Elizabeth. ‘You think because they are timid they’ll always be timid, or because they’re mean they’ll always be mean. But they can change awfully quickly if they are treated right.’”</p> <p><strong>3. Put your mind to it, and you can overcome anything</strong></p> <p>With the dizzying range of stories Blyton wove, her characters were in such diverse situations, but were always able to keep their chins firmly up and remain positive about their circumstances.</p> <p>Defining quote:“The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and let them lead you to something better.”</p> <p><strong>4. You can’t run away from your problems</strong></p> <p>Blyton’s characters never dreamed of running away from life’s challenges – not even when they were scared.</p> <p>Defining quote:“You’re trying to escape from your difficulties, and there never is any escaping from your difficulties, never. They have to be faced and fought.”</p> <p><strong>5. Allow yourself to grow and learn</strong></p> <p>With wisdom that many politicians could do with, Blyton showed that being persuaded to another way of thinking is not a bad thing, and should not be a source of shame or damaged pride.</p> <p>Defining quote: “Make up your mind about things, by all means – but if something happens to show you that you are wrong, then it is feeble not to change your mind, Elizabeth. Only the strongest people have the pluck to change their minds, and say so, if they see they have been wrong in their ideas.”</p> <p><strong>6. The world isn’t always fair to children</strong></p> <p>Unfortunately, Blyton’s characters experienced their fair share of nastiness, but those incredibly patient children knew how to handle themselves (and the adults) to make sure all was put right in the end.</p> <p>Defining quote: “It wasn’t a bit of good fighting grown-ups. They could do exactly as they liked.”</p> <p><strong>7. Picnics are the best meals</strong></p> <p>Blyton’s characters are forever having picnic lunches in the great outdoors. Baskets are packed with loaves of bread, bottles of ginger ale, and wedges of cheese, and these simple foods always sound so tasty and luxurious when enjoyed in the great outdoors, that it inspires readers to try it themselves.</p> <p>Defining quote: “’I don’t know why, but the meals we have on picnics always taste so much nicer than the ones we have indoors,’ said George.”</p> <p>Which is your favourite Enid Blyton book/series? Tell us in the comments below.</p>

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The best Enid Blyton books to share with kids

<p class="Default">Much-loved author Enid Blyton published 800 titles over 40 years before passing away in 1968.</p> <p class="Default">Still being printed today, the references in her books to golliwogs and gypsies have been erased and clothing has changed from shorts and short-sleeved shirts to jeans and anoraks.</p> <p class="Default">As her books continue to be enjoyed by children transfixed in plots where young characters get the better of baddies - often with the help of hidden passages and pet dogs - as an author she remains unrivalled.</p> <p class="Default">In honour of the popular author’s extensive repertoire, here are the top five Blyton books to share with the little ones in your life.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>1. <em><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-adventures-of-the-wishing-chair-enid-blyton%2Fprod9780603568169.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Adventures of the Wishing Chair</span></a></em></strong></p> <p class="Default">Revisiting <em>The Wishing Chair </em>stories will not disappoint. Mollie and Peter’s adventures on their flying chair – the Grabbit gnomes! Chinky their pixie friend! – should be an essential part of everyone’s childhood.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>2. <em><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Ffive-run-away-together-70th-anniversary-edition-enid-blyton%2Fprod9781444908671.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Five Run Away Together</span></a></em></strong></p> <p class="Default">The Famous Five has to be on this list. Timmy is a great canine companion. Despite stiff competition from Five Go to Smuggler’s Top, this one has always been a favourite. When Julian, Dick and Anne visit George for the summer, Aunt Fanny is taken ill and they are left with the nasty Stick family in charge.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>3. <em><a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Fthe-circus-of-adventure-enid-blyton%2Fprod9781447262817.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Circus of Adventure</span></a></em></strong></p> <p class="Default">While all the Adventure series was great, it was Philip’s legendary gift with animals that resonated with many. From taming angry bears to kidnapping and rescues, this one is full of wild adventure.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>4. <a rel="noopener" href="http://t.dgm-au.com/c/93981/71095/1880?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Ffirst-term-at-malory-towers-enid-blyton%2Fprod9781405272735.html" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">First Term at Malory Towers</span></em></a></strong></p> <p class="Default">Did you know that Heroine Darrell Rivers was named after Blyton’s second husband, Kenneth Darrell Waters? It’s kind of romantic. From midnight feasts of ginger cake and sardines to swimming in a pool hollowed out of the rocks, this book is a great read. Especially the sharp-tongued Alicia and the awful Gwendoline Mary.</p> <p class="Default"><strong>5. <em>Shadow the Sheep Dog</em></strong></p> <p class="Default">While this might be considered a lesser-known Blyton book by some, in the <em>Shadow the Sheep Dog</em>, is a little less adventuresome but great nonetheless. Centred around various sheepdog trials, a temporary blinding, and portraying a great sense of loyalty makes this one a great one to share with little ones.</p>

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Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree” to be turned into film

<p>Every child has grown up with at least one Enid Blyton story, whether it was T<em>he Famous Five, The Twins at St Clare’s</em> or <em>The Magic Faraway Tree.</em></p> <p>Now the Faraway Tree series is getting a movie makeover, with news that it's being adapted for a live action film by Sam Mendes’ production company, Neal Street Productions.</p> <p>And it looks like the film is in good hands, as the team behind the adaptations are big Faraway Tree fans.</p> <p>“As a child I was captivated by The Faraway Tree books, and the magical worlds created by Enid Blyton,” said Neal Street Productions’ Pippa Harris.</p> <p>“Re-reading the books today with my daughter, they completely retain their power to enchant. To be able to adapt these books for the big screen and introduce them to a new audience is a great honour.”</p> <p>Marlene Johnson, head of the Enid Blyton Estate, said: “Enid Blyton was a passionate advocate of children’s storytelling, and The Magic Faraway Tree is a fantastic example of her creative imagination.</p> <p>“It’s a much loved title, so we’re very excited to announce we’ve signed an option agreement for development with Neal Street Productions.</p> <p>“Many generations have grown up with The Magic Faraway Tree and today’s news provides a great chance to share the wonder of these stories through a new medium.”</p> <p>So who’s going to playing Silky, Moonface, Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man?</p>

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