IF the Famous Five are to undergo a successful reinvention they need to reflect the times in which they live, and connect with today’s youth.
The Mail says that Enid Blyton’s gang of five have been transferred to the Disney Empire. Julian, Anne, Dick and George have become Jo, Max, Dylan and Allie.
Only Timmy the dog remains unaltered, although after last summer’s rave (Five Go Off In A Caravan) he often gets a far away look in his eye and barks at 128 beats per minute.
Not everyone is best pleased at the changes, and the Mail manages to find those who are not. Enid Blyton’s biographer Barbara Stanley says: “I don’t think Enid Blyton would have appreciated too much the mucking around with her stuff.”
Lumme!
Tony Summerfield, of the Enid Blyton Society, adds: “The only loose connection is that they are the Famous Five’s offspring.”
The news of the Famous Five procreating is surely a sign of how things have changed. And it is a damning verdict on modern society that parents and children now only hare a loose connection.
Look out for cameo appearances from teenage mum Anne (Five Get Into Trouble), Dick, father to all the new gang, Max’s biological mum George and Julian wrestling an addiction to alcopops brought on by lashings of ginger beer…
Posted: 20th, March 2008 | In: Tabloids Comments (10) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
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March 22nd, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I still have Little Black Sambo minus it’s paper cover!
Oh my… can you imagine the furore and yet no malice was intended! I also have a very old book of nursery rhymes that have been translated into Malay. English one page, Malay the next. When I was at school in Singapore we learnt Malay as second language so I guess I had it to help me along educationally!!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
My copy of Little Black Sambo is tucked between Mein Kampf and The Protocols of Zion.
March 21st, 2008 at 8:43 am
coolandcalm 7- Morning
Nostalgia indeed!!!
Still got the book Nurse Fox( the district midwife that delivered me) gave as a gift when I was born. Great sense of community then
The book was called The Story of Little Black Sambo. The author is Helen Bannerman.
Don’t think such a gift would go down so well these days!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Black_Sambo
March 21st, 2008 at 7:34 am
Yampster
Matty…. because I spent a lot of my childhood abroad and we travelled a lot much of my stuff was lost (or secretly thrown with hindsight) though I still have some of the beatrix potter books, a couple of battered Famous Five and some dancing novels (senior moment, forgotten authors name) all in the attic in boxes. Along with all my records, singles and LP’s. None worth anything (too battered) but I can’t throw them.
I have two teddy bears also from age two that are very well travelled.
Aaaaah. nostalgia!
Oh and I too wanted to be George!
March 21st, 2008 at 12:37 am
The famous five is a classic case of child neglect. These children, all apparently under 15 are allowed to run wild in a series of hazardous geographical locations, meeting a series of hardened criminals, some of whom appear to be……..swarthy
March 20th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
This one still has the tag on her wrist!!!
I can remember going to Fenwicks and this was the only thing I asked for at Christmas .
She is pride of place in my bedroom as I type, tag intact!!
http://www.sashadolluk.co.uk/
March 20th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
This is one of my treasures she never got her hands on. My dolly still has her dress n all!!!
http://www.bonsignore.com/alisa/TalkUps.html
March 20th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
coolandcalm 2 - I have also read all Famous Five, started with Secret Seven. I always saw myself as George. I seem to remember I bought all the books as a treat with pocket money ecrued but where are all the books now. I am going to blame my little sister who got all my cast offs and never treasured them. Little shit!! Good job I kept some of my most favourites to adulthood, fully intact
March 20th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
I loved the Famous Five, I read every single book over and over. I so wanted to be part of the gang. (same as I wanted to go to Mallory Towers). To tinker with The F.F. is sacrilege even if its not then anymore! Methinks I shall protest……..
Or am I a hypocrite? I did love the Comic Strip version!
March 20th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Good grief, just their offspring, thought it should be grandchildren by now?
As an aside I know several dogs who are called Max and Dylan
Hope not too Disneyfied as in Winnie the Pooh, ghastly mistake there!