Page 7 | Enid Blyton - what's been edited out/changed??

Distantview · 2026-06-12T10:53:01+00:00

Have picked up a 2021 version of The Magic Faraway tree. I used to love this series as a child. It has a disclaimer about being edited to meet modern standards. Now I'm trying to work out what was in the original that would be offensive today - does anyone know?

Gofaster2023 · 12/06/2026 22:07

Mr whatshisname was smoking (I think it was when he trapped Saucepan man in another land) and they changed it to something else like a kettle steaming. However I had the classic illustrations with the modern text and they didn't remove the original picture!

Thechaseison71 · 12/06/2026 22:08

RubyEspadrilles · 12/06/2026 12:32

Timmy the dog had a different name in the early publications of the famous five.

I am pretty sure he didn't, unless you are thinking of Timothy, which Timmy is short for.

Show quote history

I don't think so. He first appeared in 5 on a treasure Island and was Timothy then

Prombles · 12/06/2026 22:27

ChocolateApples · 12/06/2026 21:59

I think the class attitudes are very mixed.

The St Clare's twins are criticised for wanting to go to the fancy school with evening dress, and end up at the much more sensible St Clare's.

Then there's Sheila who puts on airs and graces, but it turns out that she's new money and very insecure about it which is why she's acting the way she did. Janet is undeniably snobby about her saying she talks like the daughter of the dustman, but I don't think she's presented as being particularly kind for saying this. And we have to remember that this was in a time where it was far more accepted the RP was the only correct way to speak.

Then you have Gwen being an utter snob sucking up to Clarissa because she's 'the Hon'. And then going off her when she thinks she's poor because she mistakes Clarissa's governess for Clarissa's mother at half term. She gets ger comeuppance when Clarissa's mother turns up in a Bentley at the end of term. And Clarissa becomes friends with Bill because friendships is built on things you have in common (horses for those two), not how rich you are.

Another book with class clashes is Those Dreadful Children. There the rough children and the prim and proper children get off to a very bad start, but in the end all come round to recognising the good in each other and the snooty ones become a lot less priggish. Although I think her presentation of Irish people would raise a few eyebrows.

Show quote history

I always saw the Taggertys as rackety, permissive parenting, boho types rather than being of a 'lower' social class than the Carletons. They employed a housekeeper and the dads had been at school together, which in those days was a class marker (compare Noel Streatfeild's White Boots where Harriet's father having been at the same school as Lalla's uncle made the friendship acceptable even though Harriet was genuinely hard up).

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 12/06/2026 22:30

Clarissa and Bill were a rather lovely couple - planning to live together and run a riding school. Forget lesbian sub text...that was pretty clear cut

Prombles · 12/06/2026 22:36

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 12/06/2026 22:30

Clarissa and Bill were a rather lovely couple - planning to live together and run a riding school. Forget lesbian sub text...that was pretty clear cut

I found it odd that they didn't come together until Gwen finally crossed the line in upsetting Clarissa with her hypocrisy over Darrell's demotion.

Bill metaphorically had 'I love horses' tattooed on her forehead; Clarissa emerged from Gwen's clutches as almost as horse-obsessed, I wonder that she didn't at least mention it to Bill earlier in the term, or ask to meet Thunder. I know Clarissa was shy but Bill was never going to shun anyone who talked to her about horses!

KatieKat88 · 12/06/2026 22:40

NoArmaniNoPunani · 12/06/2026 14:43

I remember an elf/pixie character called Chinky in one of her books.

Now Binky in DD's audiobook! Which I think was a sensible change. She adores that and the Magic Faraway Tree. She was quite scared by Dame Snap, so clearly the new version has the same effect as Dame Slap had on me as a child!

ChocolateApples · 12/06/2026 23:52

Prombles · 12/06/2026 22:27

I always saw the Taggertys as rackety, permissive parenting, boho types rather than being of a 'lower' social class than the Carletons. They employed a housekeeper and the dads had been at school together, which in those days was a class marker (compare Noel Streatfeild's White Boots where Harriet's father having been at the same school as Lalla's uncle made the friendship acceptable even though Harriet was genuinely hard up).

Show quote history

Oh, interesting. Did the snooty family not have a housekeeper then? Or are you just saying they are social equals? I had forgotten about the housekeeper. And as a kid I just accepted that they were normal in those books, if not in my own life.