Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton (1897–1968) is one of the most beloved children's authors of all time. She wrote more than 700 books, which have sold more than 500 million copies worldwide and continue to be read and enjoyed by millions of children and adults today.

Enid Mary Blyton was born in East Dulwich in London in 1897. She was an only child and often found herself alone, with few friends. To pass her time, Enid read voraciously and made up stories of her own. She was sent to a boarding school at the age of eight and although she performed poorly in academic subjects, she excelled in her writing.

Enid began writing professionally at the age of 17 and, within five years, had attracted the attention of leading publishers Hodder and Stoughton. Her first series, The Adventure Series, was published in 1922 and was an instant success. This was followed by the popular Five Find-Outers and Dog series (1943-61) and The Famous Five series (1942-63).

Enid Blyton's works involve exciting adventures, brave heroes, and mysterious villains. She was particularly fond of creating vivid, likeable characters and ongoing situations, inspiring the readers to keep turning the pages. Her enormous output of books for children is dominated by mystery and adventure stories, although she also wrote novels, short stories, poems and more.

Enid's stories had a huge influence on children's fiction and popular culture. Many of her books have been adapted for television, most notably the Famous Five and Secret Seven. These series also spawned a wide variety of merchandise, such as puzzles, games, toys, jigsaws and much more.

In addition to her contribution to children's literature, Enid was also heavily involved in the education of young people. She founded and served on the board of the Enid Blyton Educational Trust, which aimed to promote the value of reading and literature among children. She was also a major donor to the Enid Blyton Cancer Research Fund.

Enid Blyton is recognised as one of the most prolific and successful authors of children’s books in the twentieth century. She has been honored with a variety of awards and accolades, including an insignia from the French government for her services to French children's literature.

Enid's books have been translated into 90 languages, and to this day, millions of children the world over have fallen in love with her magical stories. A true pioneer of children's literature, Enid Blyton left an extraordinary legacy that will endure for many generations to come.