Get packed for schoolies on Kirrin Island. You’re gonna have an awesome time, eat some genetically-modified mangoes, some waygu beef, fresh sushimi and morton bay bugs
The Famous Five will be happening, twenty ten style. Julian (Jules) Dick (Ricardo) Georgia (a girl pushing the boundaries of her testosterone levels) Anne (pronounced A-yne) and Timoen (a staffy/shiatzu cross) will be there on arrival, ready to pick you up, empowering you with Red Bull and Blonde lager.
A couple of days ago, Hodder publishing announced that Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series will be ‘refreshed … with new packaging and sensitively revised text’.
Golly. I feel queer and peculiar.
I think I’ll be able to tolerate sensitively revised text, but won’t cope with alterations to first names as seen in some revamped copies of the Faraway Tree collection. Remember Fanny? She was always going to be behind the eight ball and fall through the re-publishing cracks. When they turned her into Franny, it seems that readers got a bum steer. And Dick? Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick, Dick! So stiff to get changed to Richard. Such a pointed display of a balls up! He was only a cousin of Jo, Bessie and F(r)anny, couldn’t he have kept his name in order to get a head?
Twas a shame.
The Famous Five were my favourite stories as a child and young teen. I still have the 21 volumes in 70s covers and 1944 language. They are the 12th impression and printed and bound in Great Britain.
According to publisher Hodder, ‘the text changes are focused on the dialogue, while the narrative is left untouched,‘ so it’s a relief to see that the stories will remain the same. I wonder if the five will have iPods and mobie phones? Will Julian be watching YouTube while he changes from boy to man in the larder? Will Dick have a DS and play Super Mario Bros while awaiting Uncle Quentin’s word on what’s for tea?
And George? I bet she sharn’t be doing girly stuff, if the narrative remains the same. Will she allow her fledging leg hairs to grow while remembering the days when she used to ‘bully-off’ in hockey? Then Anne. She’ll be as gay as a lark while she shuns Bratz for Miley.
Timmy will only eat Eukanuba and sharnt be encouraged to scrounge for jam sandwiches left in nearby rubble. He will be reprimanded if the vet is no longer able to feel his ribs ‘neath the subcutaneous layer of fat.
But there won’t be text talk or street slang in Enid’ Famous Five. They’ll be no ‘OMG, FFS, I *wants* that adventure, like, nao!’ Or, ‘Uncle Quentin! You have totally piff co-dees for a hater, dude!’
Thank goodness. It’s nice that modern kids will be protected from ye olde British expression, but Enid wouldn’t want a blight-on the English language. Now, that would be horrid!
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4 Responses to ZOMG! Enid!
Back in the 70s, as I worked my way through the Faraway Tree Collection, the Wishing Chair, Famous Five and then onto Mallory Towers -- the language was already dated. However, for me, it added to the appeal and the mystique. It really felt like stepping into another world. I loved the sound of the little cottage Jo, Bessie and F(r)anny lived in. I still remember the sardine ice-cream and the glorious elfin Silky. Some of the language may be out of date, but I'm sure modern children can still relate to the tales of their adventures and their apparent freedom to roam and explore. Modern versions of these tales are as welcome as a MYKI card in this household. I might have to sign a petition against the desecration of my fondest childhood reading!
YES. Fiona, this is SO important:
for me, it added to the appeal and the mystique. It really felt like stepping into another world
Gosh, me too, ffs. It was G8t and so atmospheric.
Interestingly, I spoke to Pip (who managed to get her face out of a book for a moment) about Enid's language. She adores it, by golly! Apparently, the theme of adventure and exploration will stay true, it will just be queer, peculiar changes to language.
I might sign that petition with you, love, rather than sitting about on my Franny and feeling like a Dickardo.
Oy, I have a small sick pea here today too. Tummy troubles. How's Im?
Mate's gone down too. I imagine it will be working it's way through peeps for the next gazillion weeks.
When I was 8, and laid up in hospital, my Nana bought me my very own copy of The Wishing Chair Again. It didn't matter that we already had a copy at home, or that I'd already read it -- I was in love. Who can forget chapter titles like “Mister Grim's School for Bad Brownies” or “The Horrid Quarrel”?? I don't remember too many specifics from that hospital stay, but I remember the gift and how gay I felt. Jolly good memory to have really. And, just like Pip, Marv is rather fond of Enid's writing just the way it is. Did I tell you that when Marv was still reluctant to read, I introduced her (as a last resort) to The Magic Faraway Tree. Now she's a right proper bookworm and just talking about it makes me want to read every single thing Enid Blyton has written all over again, by golly!
Mate is unwell too? Sheesh. I hope they're better soon.
LOL about the chapter in the Wishing Chair 'The Horrid Quarrel!' How can one NOT love that? Seriously? It's dated, yet timeless (which I know doesn't quite make sense, but I reckon you get what I mean). It's quite classic.
For as long as we are historically tied to England and have inherited the idiosyncrasies of their language, it's good for kids to realize it. It's not hard to decipher, ffs.
Nice story about Marv. The Faraway Tree series was the one that first captured my attention. Just wonderful.