Joe, Beth and Frannie; does the modern Enchanted Wood still have the same charm?

[musicalfrog]

Two name changes, and I'm guessing one gender change since I read it thirty something years ago. Can anyone please tell me if it's still as lovely before I get started on it with my four year old?

No. Those aren't the only changes either. Better to read as was and explain as you go along.

Damn! How can I get hold of the old ones? Guessing they're out of print?

Book people were selling the full set for not a lot. I appear to be the originals. Dd is 6 and likes having them read to her. Dh does not enjoy them!

It's still a great story, though, brought back lots of lovely memories for me when I read it to my then four-year-old.

I bought a set from Aldi and it's the new version. I should think any set bought new will be. I'm actually quite peed off by this. I just found this online www.freerangekids.com/when-dick-and-fannie-became-rick-and-frannie-guest-post/

And I'm in complete agreement with the author. I may even write to the publisher as I think the decision to make these changes is ridiculous.

Dame Slap has changed too - and much less spanking of inquisitive children.

I'd get the originals if you can. I dislike the "modern" Enid Blytons. I small amount of altering (I understand Fanny being changed, but why change Bess?) but I think the story generally should be altered. Dd1 when she read it said "why is everyone afraid of Dame Snap? She's not that scary" and I think that summed it up for me. The alterations take away from the story. There is no place where Dame Slap is shown to be behaving rightly, so surely it's no problem for the children to be shocked at her behaviour?

I think though the one I found most ridiculous was one of the Adventure series.
Th original line was something along the lines of:
(Jack is lost and talking to himself/Kiki)
"If I was Lucy Ann, then I would sit down and cry, but as I'm a boy I can't do that, so I must keep going."
If you want to alter that, then change "as I'm a boy" to "as I'm older". Fine.

What they actually altered it to was something along the lines of:
"As I'm a boy I can sit down and cry. if I was Lucy Ann then I couldn't."

I have to admit to throwing that copy out so I can't produce the absolute words though.

Agree about DameSnap/Slap.
I think I can tell you why they changed Bessie to Beth. Apparently Bess, when they changed it, was deemed old fashioned. The amusing thing is that now names like Bessie (including similar Bess, Betsy, Betty) are becoming more fashionable, and they're slowly edging and gaining more popularity again. Whilst Beth is rapidly falling down the name charts. What are they going to do? Change it again

It's a while since I've seen one of the revised copies, but didn't they also change exclamations like 'gosh' 'golly' that sort of thing, for more modern versions?

You can buy original editions second-hand - some are very expensive, but you can find reasonably priced ones looking on Ebay, and Amazon marketplace. Often sellers will state that the text is the original version -they cost more, but it's definitely worth finding the older copies.
I think a film may be planned...so they could go up in price.

A film, really? I hadn't heard. I wonder if it will be based on the revised version.

www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/22/enid-blyton-faraway-tree-series-film-sam-mendes

Interesting about the film, but at least you expect changes to be made with films. I just think it's so disrespectful to Enid Blyton herself to change the character names and story.

I've got some older versions on my eBay watch list right now.

Sorry, I didn't see the film link you posted! Thanks smiling.

Yes agree, you expect changes. They changed one of the names in Swallows and Amazons film recently. More understable though, and changing names to Frannie and Rick. Changing Bessie, and the reasons for it, however, ridiculous!