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Home / Lifestyle

English Heritage reject Enid Blyton coin commemoration, calling her 'racist, sexist, homophobe'

By Ben Hill
news.com.au·
18 Jun, 2021 09:28 PM5 mins to read

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Enid Blyton is well-known for her book series The Famous Five and she also created Noddy, a well-loved children's fictional character. Photo / File

Enid Blyton is well-known for her book series The Famous Five and she also created Noddy, a well-loved children's fictional character. Photo / File

Well-known children's author Enid Blyton has been trending on Twitter after her work was deemed "racist and xenophobic", according to a UK charity organisation.

The Sun reported that English Heritage - a charity that manages the UK's historic monuments - noted the late Famous Five author "has been criticised during her lifetime and after for its racism, xenophobia and lack of literary merit".

Blyton's story The Little Black Doll has also been criticised after "the doll of the title, Sambo, is only accepted by his owner once his 'ugly black face' is washed 'clean' by rain".

Author Enid Blyton wrote the The Famous Five series of children's books and created Noddy. Photo / Getty Images
Author Enid Blyton wrote the The Famous Five series of children's books and created Noddy. Photo / Getty Images

English Heritage also claimed Blyton was rejected by the Royal Mint for commemoration on the 50p coin because she was "a racist, sexist, homophobe and not a very well-regarded writer".

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A blue plaque from the heritage organisation is located outside her former home in southwest London, but there are no plans to remove it.

However, last year the organisation made a pledge to review all blue plaques following the Black Lives Matter protests across the world.

After the biography of the writer hit the headlines, the organisation tweeted a defence of the article.

"Our 1997 Blue Plaque to Enid Blyton is back in the news along with our online bio of the children's author, whose books are loved by many," it said.

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"We can fit about 19 words on each plaque. Our website provides a fuller picture of the person's life, including any uncomfortable aspects.

"We have no plans whatsoever to remove any of our blue plaques.

"We'll continue to update our website so that the story behind each plaque – and each person – is told in full."

Social media wasn't too impressed by the plans to cancel Blyton.

Many have turned to social media to comment on English Heritage's biography of the late writer, including comedian David Baddiel.

He tweeted: "Re Enid Blyton – racism, yes, xenophobia, yes, but 'lack of literary merit' about books that have sold 600 million copies just sounds weirdly snooty."

Oh FFS… leave Enid Blyton alone you woke w*nkers.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 17, 2021

She made my childhood magic. She gave me a lifelong love of reading, writing, Cornwall, mysteries. Her books were loved over thirty years later by my own daughter who wanted stories (not to be lectured to on worthy topics). So bored with all the Cancel puritans #EnidBlyton pic.twitter.com/QH0tx0qfcZ

— Josephine Pennicott (@talepeddlerJo) June 18, 2021

Television presenter James Wong tweeted: "The idea that Enid Blyton's works have racist elements has been around for at least 3 decades.

"Why suddenly so angry about it today, as if it's hot off the press?"

Granddaughter of Enid Blyton says “she’s been dead for 50yrs so I wish people would just leave her alone” she was a woman of her time, born in 1897, she’s not here to defend herself - English Heritage want her blue plaque removed after comparing her past with present values.

— joyce miller🇬🇧 (@agapanthus49) June 18, 2021

Of course Enid Blyton's stuff had racist overtones. So what? Point it out. Discuss it. But don't "cancel" it. We shouldn't sanitise the past. We should learn from it. And enjoy the good things in it.

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) June 18, 2021

Very sad that English Heritage's decision may result in the joy of Enid Blyton books – including the Famous Five – erased for future generations. It's wrong that works written decades ago are being judged by standards of 2021. The plague of woke continues.https://t.co/Fcpdhb0Qiw

— Cllr Joe Porter 🇬🇧🌳🦋 (@JoePorterUK) June 18, 2021

Kids these days anyway don't read Enid Blyton. Those of us who did, grew up fine - unless being obsessed with eating treacle pudding is a character flow.

Don't cancel Blyton - she has already been retired long back. Move on.

— Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) June 18, 2021

My love for reading came from #EnidBlyton, and she was a key element of my childhood. Sure, there are gender/race issues in her books - but let's remember she was writing 70 years ago! What is "correct" changes a lot in 7 decades. https://t.co/5OCC6bgRzi

— Vikram Chandra (@vikramchandra) June 18, 2021

Blyton is well-known for her book series The Famous Five and she also created Noddy, a well-loved children's fictional character.

She died in 1968 aged 71.

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