3. Famous Five Treats

The Famous Five series kicked off in 1942. The first in the series: Five on a Treasure Island see Julian, Anne, Dick, George and the dog Timmy embark on outdoor adventures in the rural English countryside. Closely aligned with The Island Series, Blyton continues her trademark trope of school children, set free from their boarding schools and indulging in adventurous journeys across a British rural landscape. My favourite in the series is undoubtedly Five on Kirrin Island Again (1947). Both The Island and The Famous Five series have stark similarities to the Robinsonade genre and ‘the island' trope within children's literature; both of which were derived from the 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. As O'Malley argues: "the Robinsonade narrative form came generally to be associated with tales of adventure and exploration" (48), and Blyton certainly utilises this setting for this series of novels.

After an initial journey from the North of England, some navigation through the city of London and another train journey, the five arrive in Dorset where they are met by Aunt Fanny. Aunt Fanny also accompanies the children to Kirrin Island but as in most Blyton's stories this authoritative figure remains firmly on the periphery of the narrative; mainly as the person who provides the food: "Come down to tea, children, because there are hot scones for you, just out of the oven." (Blyton, 19). When the real adventures of Kirrin Island take place, Fanny is positioned at a distance from the children's endeavours but remains reassuringly nearby to turn out the grub when it's needed: "Oh no, I can't bear those dungeons, I'll sit out here in the sun and unpack the sandwiches. It's almost lunch-time" (28). Blyton provides a narrative where one can abandon oneself to the thrills and excitement of adventure in remote parts of the UK, but through her portrayal of food, she maintains a sense of comfort and home: "they sat in the warm April sunshine, eating hungrily. There was orangeade to drink, cool and delicious" (36). As a child, to vicariously experience this sense of thrill and adventure through the characters of The Famous Five was always a pleasant relief to every-day reality, a chance to imagine and daydream, but always with the safe and consoling presence of Aunt Fanny and her sandwiches to bring me back to safety. Blyton's use of food within these books represent comfort and security; as Rudd suggests: "clearly, the security of eating contrasts poignantly with the danger of adventure" (105). The food is always delivered by the parental figures who re-emerge into the narrative to deliver a dose of sustenance and reassurance before disappearing back to the margins so the children can continue their escapades unsupervised. The food provides a break in the adventure to remind the reader that home is never very far away. It is also the tool which Blyton uses to illustrate friendship between the characters; the description of food but also the eating of said food, brings the Famous Five children together and thereby envelops the reader into the experience also. As Rudd suggests: "food, then, is about bonding and companionship. And in reading the books, many readers like to join in, sharing the oral satisfaction." (104).

It's of no surprise to me that Aunt Fanny's recipes are still printed in modern-day cookbooks – who wouldn't want to take a trip down memory lane to soak up that homely reassurance and companionship once again with those tasty treats?

Andrew, O'Malley, Children's Literature, Popular Culture and Robinson Crusoe (48)
Rudd, David, Enid Blyton and the Mystery of Children's Literature, (104, 105)
Blyton, Enid, Five Go on Kirrin Island Again, (19,28,36)