Noddy to be launched in China", M2 Best Books, 15 March 2004, archived from the original on 11 June 2014 , retrieved 28 March 2014 In book two, it's the start of the Easter Term and the twins are looking forward to meeting all their friends at St Clare's once more.

Inglis, Fred (1982), The Promise of Happiness: Value and Meaning in Children's Fiction, CUP Archive, ISBN 978-0-521-27070-0 In July 1923, Blyton published Real Fairies, a collection of thirty-three poems written especially for the book with the exception of "Pretending", which had appeared earlier in Punch magazine. [16] The following year, she published The Enid Blyton Book of Fairies, illustrated by Horace J. Knowles, [17] and in 1926 the Book of Brownies. [18] Several books of plays appeared in 1927, including A Book of Little Plays and The Play's the Thing with the illustrator Alfred Bestall. [19] Fisher, Margery (1986), The Bright Face of Danger: An Exploration of the Adventure Story, Hodder Children's Books, ISBN 978-0-34022-993-4 Dixon, Bob (1974). "The Nice, the Naughty and the Nasty: The Tiny World of Enid Blyton". Children's Literature in Education. 5 (3): 43–61. doi: 10.1007/BF01141765. S2CID 145195783.Of course, I am still planning on posting a detailed review of Enid Blyton’s original, of her The Twins at St. Clare’s in the near future. However, as someone who was both aghast and also totally disappointed (and yes also felt more than a bit lied to) when I realised that one of my favourite boarding school series from when I was a tween and young teenager was in fact NOT REALLY a translation of Enid Blyton’s original texts into German but at best only a very very loose adaptation, I do feel that I need to point out that if you are indeed planning on reading the St. Clare’s series in German, that no indeed, how the anonymous translator or translators have rendered both The Twins at St. Clare’s and indeed the entire series into German is in my opinion both an affront to what it means to translate and also to Enid Blyton as an author (and yes, I strongly feel this even though the German language versions of the St. Clare’s series have in fact been published in agreement with Enid Blyton’s estate). Elsie stayed down in the second form for the term - she should have really gone up to the third form. She is spiteful and Carlotta calls her ‘Catty Elisie’. There is a feud between her and the rest of the form. When Carlotta tries to invite her to her midnight feast, Elsie refuses, though she wants to go and plots to ruin it for the second formers. When Elsie sees Miss Theobald at the end of term Miss Theobald says she is not up to go to the third form in either behaviour or work, though she is too old to be in the second form. This suggests she may have a learning problem or just doesn't try very hard. At the very end of the book, Elsie shows a bit of a change in spirit and is nice to Gladys, who is sad that her mother is ill. Elsie is the main antagonist of the book but isn't mentioned in any other books in the series, so it is unknown whether she really turns over a new leaf or whether she reverts to her old ways. The Second Form at St. Clares is the fourth novel in the St. Clare's series of children's school stories by Enid Blyton. The series is about the boarding school adventures of twin girls Patricia and Isabel O'Sullivan. Their form mistress is now Miss Jenks and they no longer have to bear the severeness of the first form mistress, Miss Roberts – who is extremely sarcastic and firm but can be kind when she feels like to, a bit like Mam'zelle, the French teacher that used to teach and is still teaching the girls. And if we knew all school series would be 6 books long 1 book for each school year it would not be so interesting reading the different series. So much of the story/character development for these books happens in such different ways that they couldn't fit into the same mold or the whole story would have been spoilt. Thank you Tony for these wonderful notes and Anita from the transcript. Anita, I think you've explained very well what I couldn't put my finger on. Was it unusual for Enid to work from notes? I take it that Enid didn't use her 'cinema screen' method for this book? - If so that's maybe what's missing, it's that unusual spark, magic that is uniquely hers and draws you in?

Brazouski, Antoinette; Klatt, Mary J. (1994), Children's Books on Ancient Greek and Roman Mythology: An Annotated Bibliography, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 978-0-313-28973-6 I generally take a pretty dim view of meddling with Enid Blyton's texts for reasons of political correctness or just to "update" details in stories which are of a certain period anyway, regardless - but additions to resolve plot holes of this sort are one kind of alteration I could probably look favourably upon - preferably with a note somewhere in the book saying that that had been done. Despite its name, the society provided accommodation for pre-school infants in need of special care. [87] Books: Hurrah! the Sun Never Sets on Enid Blyton". The Independent on Sunday. 18 July 2004. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014 . Retrieved 28 March 2014. Hensher, Philip (26 December 2006), "The Fatal Childhood Addiction to Enid Blyton", The Independent, archived from the original on 28 March 2014 , retrieved 28 March 2014a b Horn, Caroline (25 July 2010), "Enid Blyton Lingo Gets an Update", The Publisher , retrieved 25 April 2014

Fine, Anne (27 November 2008), "A Fine Defence of Enid Blyton", BBC Radio 4 , retrieved 22 January 2014 Blyton's Noddy, about a little wooden boy from Toyland, first appeared in the Sunday Graphic on 5 June 1949, and in November that year Noddy Goes to Toyland, the first of at least two dozen books in the series, was published. The idea was conceived by one of Blyton's publishers, Sampson, Low, Marston and Company, who in 1949 arranged a meeting between Blyton and the Dutch illustrator Harmsen van der Beek. Despite having to communicate via an interpreter, he provided some initial sketches of how Toyland and its characters would be represented. Four days after the meeting Blyton sent the text of the first two Noddy books to her publisher, to be forwarded to van der Beek. [49] The Noddy books became one of her most successful and best-known series, and were hugely popular in the 1950s. [50] An extensive range of sub-series, spin-offs and strip books were produced throughout the decade, including Noddy's Library, Noddy's Garage of Books, Noddy's Castle of Books, Noddy's Toy Station of Books and Noddy's Shop of Books. [51] Welcome Enid Blyton", The Malay Mail, 4 August 2001, archived from the original on 11 June 2014 , retrieved 28 March 2014a b c d e Johnstone, Anne (29 July 2006). "Enid Blyton's books were until recently sacrificed on the altar of 'political correctness', now they are enjoying a renaissance and her daughter is preparing to celebrate a special anniversary". The Herald. Archived from the original on 11 June 2014 . Retrieved 28 March 2014.

The St Clare's Collection is also notable for its strong themes of friendship and loyalty. Pat and Isabel's relationship is the heart of the series, and their bond is tested and strengthened through various trials and tribulations. The girls also learn the importance of forgiveness, compassion, and standing up for what is right. Rudd, David (2004), "Blytons, Noddies, and Denoddification Centers: The Changing Constructions of a Cultural Icon", in Walt, Thomas Van der; Fairer-Wessels, Felicité; Inggs, Judith (eds.), Change and Renewal in Children's Literature, Greenwood Publishing Group, pp.111–118, ISBN 978-0-275-98185-3 In 1960 alone, eleven Noddy books were published, including the strip books Noddy and the Runaway Wheel, Noddy's Bag of Money, and Noddy's Car Gets into Trouble. [1] She [Gwen] was beginning to be a little afraid of Maureen. Maureen was silly and affected - but she had a cunning and sly side to her nature, too. So had Gwen, of course. She recognized it easily in Maureen because it was in herself too. That was the dreadful part of this forced friendship with Maureen. It was like being friends with yourself, and knowing all the false, silly, sly things that went on in your own mind.

St. Clare's Sequels

Pat is the twin sister of Isabel and very similar to her. They both enjoy working together, love sports, and are each other's best friend. They also look practically identical. Pat The main characters are the twins Pat and Isobel O'Sullivan, who arrive at the school in the first book. Other main characters are the hot-tempered Janet, the playful Bobby, steady head-girl Hilary, wild circus girl Carlotta, 'feather-head' Alison, strict mistresses Miss Roberts and Miss Jenks, scatty French teacher Mam'zelle (surely not!) and wise, kind headmistress Miss Theobald.