Biography
Creator of some of the most beloved characters in children’s literature, including Noddy, the Secret Seven and the Famous Five, Enid Blyton has delighted the children of countless generations with her exciting tales of mystery, adventure and friendship. Born in South London in 1897, Enid and her family moved soon after her birth to Kent, where her father Thomas nurtured a passion in Enid for nature and wildlife. Enid enjoyed a close relationship with her father, and was devastated when he left shortly after her 13th birthday to live with another woman. Her mother did nothing to encourage Enid’s interests, and their relationship remained fractious; when Enid left home in 1915, she told people her mother was dead and rarely visited.
In 1911, she entered her first children’s poetry competition. Her entry was published, and the organiser, Arthur Mee, encouraged her to keep writing.
After leaving school in 1915, she trained as a teacher and worked as a governess for several years, writing in her spare time. By the early 1920s her short stories and poems were gaining some popularity, and in 1922, her first book of poems was published. She continued to write poems, and also contributed to educational texts, which led to an interest in myths, legends and fairy tales.
In 1934, she published the first in the Old Thatch series, a collection of short stories aimed at young children. In 1937, Adventures Of The Wishing Chair was published, followed in 1939 by The Enchanted Wood, the first in The Faraway Tree series. Inspired by Norse mythology and fairytale creatures such as elves, goblins and fairies, this magical series was one of her first commercial successes.
Her first full length novel, The Secret Island was published in 1938, cementing her as one of the most popular children’s authors of the day. Series including Emelia Jane, Naughtiest Girl, St Clare’s, and the Famous Five were published throughout the 1940s. In 1949, she started work on the Secret Seven series and created one of her most popular characters: Noddy.
Creating beloved characters and inspiring future authors including Jacqueline Wilson, Denise Banks and Stieg Larsson, Enid Blyton leaves behind an incomparable legacy. Timeless classics, her books enjoy a popularity with young readers in search of adventure, magic and mystery that endures through the generations.
