Author. Born Enid Mary Blyton in South London, the eldest child of Theresa Mary Harrison and Thomas Carey Blyton, a salesman. In 1911, she entered a children's poetry competition and had her work published in a children's magazine. She was later also published in 'Nash's Magazine.' Her first book of poems, 'Child Whispers,' was published in 1922; 'Real Faeries' followed in 1923. In 1926, she began writing and editing a popular weekly magazine,'Sunny Stories.' In the 1930s she produced 'The Knights of the Round Table,' 'Tales of Ancient Greece' and 'Tales of Robin Hood.' The first of what would become twenty-eight books in her 'Old Thatch' series, 'The Talking Teapot and Other Tales,' was published in 1934. 'Brer Rabbit Retold' appeared in 1937. Her first full-length children's adventure, 'The Secret Island,' was published 1938, and the following year, the first of the 'Amelia Jane' series, ''Naughty Amelia Jane!' appeared. Following the Second Word War, the introduction of Little Noddy of Toyland Village, made her reputation. She would write some two dozen Noddy books between 1949 and 1963. The character would later be adapted to a television series. Other popular series included 'Famous Five,' 'Secret Seven,' 'Mary Mouse,' and 'Mystery' series. After 1963, her prodigious output slowed as her health began to falter. Her last to books, 'The Man Who Stopped to Help' and 'The Boy Who Came Back' published in 1965, were retellings of Bible stories. Diagnosed with dementia, she was admitted to a nursing home in 1968 where she died three months later at age 71. Her books, never a critical success, were, however, popular successes, selling in excess of 500 million copies worldwide.
Author. Born Enid Mary Blyton in South London, the eldest child of Theresa Mary Harrison and Thomas Carey Blyton, a salesman. In 1911, she entered a children's poetry competition and had her work published in a children's magazine. She was later also published in 'Nash's Magazine.' Her first book of poems, 'Child Whispers,' was published in 1922; 'Real Faeries' followed in 1923. In 1926, she began writing and editing a popular weekly magazine,'Sunny Stories.' In the 1930s she produced 'The Knights of the Round Table,' 'Tales of Ancient Greece' and 'Tales of Robin Hood.' The first of what would become twenty-eight books in her 'Old Thatch' series, 'The Talking Teapot and Other Tales,' was published in 1934. 'Brer Rabbit Retold' appeared in 1937. Her first full-length children's adventure, 'The Secret Island,' was published 1938, and the following year, the first of the 'Amelia Jane' series, ''Naughty Amelia Jane!' appeared. Following the Second Word War, the introduction of Little Noddy of Toyland Village, made her reputation. She would write some two dozen Noddy books between 1949 and 1963. The character would later be adapted to a television series. Other popular series included 'Famous Five,' 'Secret Seven,' 'Mary Mouse,' and 'Mystery' series. After 1963, her prodigious output slowed as her health began to falter. Her last to books, 'The Man Who Stopped to Help' and 'The Boy Who Came Back' published in 1965, were retellings of Bible stories. Diagnosed with dementia, she was admitted to a nursing home in 1968 where she died three months later at age 71. Her books, never a critical success, were, however, popular successes, selling in excess of 500 million copies worldwide.
Bio by: Iola
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