The first to be published by Methuen & Co Ltd in 1943 was The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage. In this book five children stumble on a mystery, which they are determined to solve and after which they become known as the ‘Five Find-Outers and dog’. They then search out mysteries during each of their school holidays from boarding school. Enid wrote about the children in these mysteries with the last one The Mystery of Banshee Towers being published in 1961.
The Five Find-Outers and a Policeman
All of the five children and their families that appear in the book are very middle class. Frederick Trotteville (Fatty) is a spoilt only child, who boasts a lot about his intelligence and likes to take over any situation.
Laurence Daykin (Larry) and his sister Margaret Daykin (Daisy) are portrayed very stereotypically of the time to which the 1950s characters belong. Larry likes to join in any adventure with the other boys, whilst Daisy is expected to largely remain behind if things look like getting too dangerous.
Philip Hilton (Pip) and his little sister Elizabeth Hilton (Bets) are children of very strict parents, yet they still seem to manage to help solve mysteries even under their watchful eyes.
Theophilus Goon the village policeman is portrayed as a larger than life character, who never gets anything right, yet is still very pompous.
Mystery and Adventure
The Mystery Series is very reminiscent of Enid Blyton’s other teenage series. She creates a group of children, who are all very typical of their sex and social standing. They stumble on or sniff out mystery and adventure. Ruffians often catch them and there is frequently a nail-biting end to each book.
Any Enid Blyton fan would not be disappointed by the series, which includes the usual fair share of animals and consumption of food. This series has a lot of reference to disguises and clues, which keep the humour and suspense going throughout the books.
Post War Britain
The books are a good history source for the post war years in Britain. For children they appear to be carefree times. They were free to cycle off on their bikes for a picnic and leisurely sit in ice-cream parlours all afternoon, eating and sipping lemonade.
The village policeman’s main task was to go on the beat. There were lots of fairs, with people working on them who travelled around all the time. Each of the families in the books had their own cooks and maids. The children had to get dressed up each evening to attend a formal family dinner. There were many houses that stood empty in post-war Britain, which made it possible for crooks to operate in them, undiscovered, until the 'Five Find-Outers' discovered them.
Although many of Enid Blyton’s books are now seen as controversial, they remain a nostalgic reminder of the past for many adults and will undoubtedly be enjoyed by young people for the suspense that they create for many years to come.
Sources
Blyton, Enid. The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage, Dragon Books, London, 1984
Blyton, Enid. The Mystery of Banshee Towers, Mammoth, London, 1997
