Enid

[whothefudge]

I've recently purchased an old Enid blyton book from a 20p shop. It was published in 1966 and smells divine. Problem is I'm not sure it's suitable for children in this day and age? AIBU in thinking people don't read old stories to their children?

Phone changed golliwog to following

I agree with Rapunzel

I read them all as a child and as a result I have to admit I absorbed some unpleasant attitudes.

I wouldn't give them to my own children. I think they've stayed the test of time because many parents have fond memories of reading them themselves.

The sexism may grate. I loved the books when I was a kid but always felt a bit cross when the girls had to do the cooking and cleaning while the boys did the dangerous stuff on the adventures.

No, and I say this as someone who has a huge collection of Enid Blyton on high shelves (a have a couple of hundred and hopefully can sell them to a collector at some point)
They are racist. No other point need to be made. Racist. My kids will no read them.

Some older books stand the test of time. Blyton doesn't. Gollywogs are racist and anyone who defends them doesn't care if people think they are racist.

Put the book away and try Susan Coolidge or LM Montgomery.

I have been concerned about some of the stuff. If you read the 'Five Find Outers' they are horrific snobs and there's quite a lot of bullying in the books.

Interestingly we got a modern version of 'The Island of Adventure' and the original has a black man playing stupid but actually being cunning. His colour isn't in the modern version but we had to explain to ds that black people weren't allowed in the front door of a hotel in those days. The colour there was a plot device. It didn't stop the racism elsewhere, though.

Enid is also grossly anti semitic. We're currently reading Harry Potter

It's sad, though, because I loved a lot of the stuff in Enid when I was a kid. I just can't accept it now.

On a side note, how does Dr Doolittle stand up these days?

What on earth is wrong with The Tiger Who Came To Tea?

The Tiger Who Came To Tea is by Judith Kerr.

the mums off her tit on Mogadon I think and unable to actually care for her child in The Tiger That Came For Tea still love it though

tits!

I have been rebuying lots of EB, perhaps with the idea that I could gift them. But no, too many golliwogs..

I think letting them read the golliwog books will encourage healthy discussions on racism. It was a different and difficult time no point pretending it doesn't exist. If you think your child is mature enough to understand the context it was written in, I would see it as a learning opportunity but I imagine I'm in the minority

I really wanted to go to St Clare's or Mallory Towers!!

The problem is that there is far more subliminal racism in the books than just the golliwogs.

There are some horrible attitudes in them. It's like trying to explain the slave trade without the slaves. You can't cut the attitudes away.

I know it's by Judith Kerr rather than Enid blyton, I was just wondering why a pp thought it was cringy. I've heard Judith Kerr speak about the story several times and she's adamant that it's just a story she made up to amuse her daughter one afternoon with no hidden meanings.

I see - sorry

I wouldn't. I think there are far too many things in them that jar with modern thinking. Not just the casual racism and sexism but the snobbery as well. Lots of talk of 'first rate' and 'third rate' people. There is also a lot of bullying which Blyton deems acceptable. There are far better alternatives.

Monica Edwards books were far better and stand the test of time quite well.

I read a lot of Blyton as a child. I reread one recently and it's all a bit sad and shit. I never recommend her to young readers.

What is wrong with Burglar Bill?

Enid was ahead of her day, introducing Georgina (george) as a Transgender person. Of course she didnt write "Five take hormones to delay puberty" or the Follow Up "Five have Gender Reassignment Surgery"

I hated the way they treated George.

Bill from Malory Towers, too.

I had plenty of Enid Blyton books growing up and didn't at the time pick up on any of the nastier elements, but looking back there were some dubious themes. Mind you, I don't remember that in all her books? I seem to remember reading one about the children of Willow Farm which (as far I recall!) seemed fairly benign?

So maybe take it on a case by case basis... but no golliwogs, yuck no. Those stories have not aged well, and there are better ways of introducing that discussion, I think.

Whenever I read the Tiger that Came to Tea I'm reminded of that mumsnet pic 'don't worry ladies a man has arrived to share his manly view' or whatever it says - anyone got a copy they can post? It's like that when the dad comes home. Subliminal sexism - mum is a bit pathetic and unable to make decisions, just sits around worrying, daddy comes home and Solves The Problem Like A Man then mum Goes Shopping Like A Woman. Plus the beer all belongs to daddy

Enid Blyton is chock full of sexism, racism, bullying. I'm 30 and I remember being shocked reading them as a child and having lots of discussions with my mum about how various things weren't kind / fair / etc. I don't think I'll bother with them with my kids, it's not like we're short of good children's literature.