Enid Blyton and Her Enchantment with Dorset

by Andrew Norman

Enid Blyton first visited Dorset at Easter 1931 with her husband Hugh Pollock; she was aged 34 and pregnant with her first child. She would later return to spend many holidays in, and around the town of Swanage in South Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, together with her two daughters: Gillian (born 1931) and Imogen (born 1935), and later with her second husband Kenneth Darrell Waters.What was it about this particular region that would draw her back, time and time again, and what pursuits did she choose to follow whilst she was here? In order to find out, we accompany Enid as she walks, swims off Swanage beach, plays golf, takes the steam train to Corfe Castle, and the paddle-steamer to Bournemouth.Although Enid's stories were drawn from her imagination, this itself was fed and nurtured by external experiences - in the case of the 'Famous Five' books, largely by what she had seen in Dorset. Whereas it is probably futile to attempt to match a specific real life location with her fictitious ones, nevertheless it is a fascinating exercise to retrace her steps, and having done so, to reflect on those topographical features which might have impinged upon her subconscious (or what she called her 'under mind') whilst she was writing the stories. It is often the case that when an author bases his work on a certain place, the subsequent discovery by the reader of that place's true identity may come as a disappointment. Not so in this case, for the real life locations are equally as interesting and exciting as the nail biting adventures of 'The Famous Five' themselves!

Genres: Biography

112 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2005

About the author

In 1970 he qualified in medicine and worked as a family doctor in the UK until 1983 when sustaining a back injury.
Then deciding to use his diagnostic skills in a different way and become a writer.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lashings of Blyton trivia and lots and lots of nice little details about totally non-beastly people who peppered her jolly trips into Dorset. This is what I imagined this book would be; well, it wasn't. One would have imagined it would have been of interest to those who love anodyne musings on geographical possibilities for her many stories and for those who know the Isle of Purbeck and Poole Harbour. Yours truly lives in Poole and grew up on Enid Blyton but it told me nothing really. Repetitive in its approach and because Norman goes out of his way to skirt any controversy, the short little book, which I read mostly over an extended breakfast this morning, was a bit pointless. Sad but there you are.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Enid Blyton and Her Enchantment with Dorset' by Andrew Norman. This slim volume is part tribute to Enid Blyton and part tribute to Dorset. It's a combination of history and biography and kind of works as a guidebook too. Enid Blyton spent many holidays in Dorset usually staying in Swanage with her husband and children. Exploring the area provided her with lots of inspiration for many of her books, in particular The Famous Five, Malory Towers and Noddy series. I loved Enid Blyton's books as a child (yes, I get all the criticism of them but they are what got me and countless other children into reading) and find it fascinating to now be able to discover the real places associated with them.

[Tim Corke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enchantment is definitely the right word to use in this title. Enid Blyton’s stories have enchanted generations of children with adventure, crime stopping and goodwill and the Dorset countryside so enchanted Enid Blyton.

Many comments focus on the controversy of Blyton but this book isn’t about her life per se even though her inspiration was clearly a huge aspect of what made her a successful author. This is about Dorset, my home county, and the wonder that is, and how it’s bygone customs, beautiful landscapes and history have influenced one of the country’s most popular authors.

[Zandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter, husband and I all read this little book on our recent camping trip to the Isle of Purbeck. We found it interesting, up to a point. This book is not an in depth account of Blyton's life and the author avoids exploring any of the controversies of her life, so it is a bit bland and unsatisfying. But Dr Norman does what he says he will do in describing the remarkable places that inspired the brilliant Blyton.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Enid Blyton when I was a child on a farm in southwestern Ontario. I think my love of England came from reading her books. This one tells of various places in Dorset that make their way into her books. Bought this from Abebooks signed by the author.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to read of the inspiration Enid found in the beauty of Swanage. Places we can still recognise today that triggered her imagination to write those wonderful books that enhanced my childhood no end.

Highly recommend it!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read while I was in the area because I also learned the history of places I was seeing. Enid was an amazing woman and now I have a greater respect for her.