Posted by Dave Thewlis on February 04, 1999 at 09:16:16:
In Reply to: Re: Which Children's authors did Ransome influence? posted by Samantha Downs on February 04, 1999 at 01:50:36:
Samantha, when was "The Islanders" written? I have a recollection of a book with a
similar plot but it would have to have been published by about 1950.
Enyd Blyton: I've always considered her books sort of the epitome of the "fantastic adventure"
sort of children's book; in a way the antithesis of the Ransome books in that (largely) the children
in Ransome do things that a child, upon reading the books, can feel he or she might well do given
similar circumstances (such as holidaying on a lake, camping out, creating their own adventures, and
mixing make-believe and reality in the continual weave that many children do).
By contrast Ms. Blyton's books all (seem to) take place with the children injected into adult
circumstances and plot devices such as stowing away on airplanes or discovering smugglers;
generally with the adults not all that competent.