Gawd Elp Us Is Nothing Sacred?

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/enid-blyton-blue-plaque-bio-by-english-heritage-includes-racist-and-xenophobic-criticism-12334601
....Perlease!

[douglas9401]

"For his next children's book."

Five Get A Bottle Of Brain Bleach

[Jackdaw33]

I see, I never read the girls' books.

[andy-hughes]

Atheist - // "...and subtle shades of lesbianism..."
Yu sound as if you disapprove of that. If so, why? //

Your interpretation - which is inaccurate - I don't disapprove in the slightest.

[andy-hughes]

Jackdaw - // I wouldn't go so far as to say that the mere fact that in The Famous Five George is a girl, is a 'shade of lesbianism', subtle or otherwise. //

Neither would I, which is probaby why I didn't reference it, and you are making up my reasons for my point with no evidence whatsoever.

[andy-hughes]

Chinajan - // // I wouldn't go so far as to say that the mere fact that in The Famous Five George is a girl, is a 'shade of lesbianism', subtle or otherwise. //

I rather think it's a reference to the schoolgirl 'Bill' and the 'mannish' Miss Peters at Malory Towers. :0) //

That's cetainly nearer the mark.

[andy-hughes]

Jackdaw - // I see, I never read the girls' books. //

Not really in a position to comment on the 'lesbianism' angle then are you?

I on the other hand have read all of them.

[douglas9401]

I don't suppose you could just say what you mean instead of going all round the houses Mr H.

Save all this nonsense.

[ToraToraTora]

"there is no lazy sterotyping involved." - perhaps AH could be Industrious Differencer, has a ring to it....

[Jackdaw33]

I think you misunderstand me. I was just saying that in The Famous Five I found no hint of lesbiansim, then or now. The term was 'tomboy', which carried no sexual connotation.

[smurfchops]

I live near the house in Chessington, a lovely old house. I believe she was a nanny there? But I might be wrong.

[jourdain2]

Oh, for goodness' sake! I have just dug out my childhood copy of 'Enid Blyton's Merry Story Book' pub. 1943 (edges of pages personally nibbled by me as a very small U.5 child). If I had the time and space I would transcribe the tale of 'The White Golliwog'.
Briefly, Golly is teased by the other toys because of his black face, but little girl Lucy loves him and they are a bit jealous. Anyway, he tries to turn white by first jumping in the flour-bin, which makes every other toy sneeze and then using distemper on himself.
'But do you know, when Lucy caught sight of her white golliwog the next morning, she gave a scream and flung him down on the floor. ........ She burst into tears and cried bitterly because her golly was white.'

The toys all apologise to Golly and help him to clean up and get dry again by the fire, but he knocks the poker off the fender and Lucy wakes up. She is so happy that she chooses him as the special toy to cuddle in bed. All the other toys are 'only too glad that the golly has his nice black face again!'
So how is that racist? Someone will no doubt enlighten me. I can remember other stories where golly was also the hero.

[jourdain2]

Jackdaw 21.46 You are correct. Tomboy had no sexual connotation. I never had the least idea of any hint of lesbianism. Mind you - it was a more innocent age and I'd never heard of it.

[tomus42]

It would be far better to leave the things that happened in the past in place, whether they're acceptable now or not.

The problem with airbrushing things out is that you can't see how things have moved on.

Enid Blyton books in their original form should always be available as a reference to how children's stories were written in the past.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // I don't suppose you could just say what you mean instead of going all round the houses Mr H. //

I am not aware of going round anywhere - I always say what I mean.

[douglas9401]

Perhaps then you could pinpoint the Sapphic stuff for us lesser mortals.

[andy-hughes]

douglas - // Perhaps then you could pinpoint the Sapphic stuff for us lesser mortals. //

Read the Mallory Towers series.

[Chinajan]

...and the continuation series of Malory Towers, where it is revealed that Bill and Miss Peters [are you sitting down douglas?] have set up a stables and are...living together.

[douglas9401]

Classic lesbian behaviour I must agree, Chinajan, I won't however be taking up the suggestion to read books from my childhood just because our hero has mis-spoken yet again.

Took me years to get over Eric and Ernie sharing a bed.

[jno]

surely we should applaud stable relatonships?

[Chinajan]

Yus.

But never mind all that. Let's discuss Enid herself and her penchant for nude tennis.

"a common practice in those days among the more louche members of the middle classes"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enid_Blyton