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Famous children’s book writer, Enid Blyton, was blocked from featuring on a commemorative 50p coin and branded a “racist homophobe” by Royal Mint bosses, new documents revealed.
On Sunday, Mail Online reported that in December 2016 the ‘Famous Five’ author was discussed as a potential option for the coin’s design, but was dismissed as she “is known to have been a racist, sexist, homophobe and not a very well-regarded writer”.
Meeting minutes obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the committee wanted the new 50p to mark the 50th anniversary of her death in 1968, but were worried about the backlash such a decision would bring.
The minutes state: “Deep concern that this theme will bring adverse reaction…concern over the backlash that may result from this.”
The news has divided many, with a number of commentators using it to re-open the ongoing debate around speech and political correctness.
Blyton’s legacy
Ms Blyton’s books have been translated into 90 languages and in the past five years more than 2 million copies have been sold, Mail online reported. To date it is estimated 600 million copies of her titles have been sold.
From around 1950 onwards her work was treated more critically, especially the ‘Noddy’ series, and faced accusations of being elitist, sexist and racist. She is the fourth most translated writer behind William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Jules Verne.
George from ‘The Famous Five’ is one example often cited of how Ms Blyton would undermine characters perceived to be feminine and only celebrate masculinity. In addition, in many of her works she characterises people of other races as untrustworthy and strange. Her ‘Noddy’ series heavily features golliwogs – something that was changed when her books were revised for a modern audience.
A spokesperson for The Royal Mint, told i: “With a rich heritage to draw upon, there are countless British events, anniversaries and themes which could be commemorated each year. To create a fair shortlist each proposal is subject to a rigorous planning and design selection process governed by an independent panel known as The Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC).
“The purpose of the RMAC is to ensure that themes commemorated on UK coins are varied, and represent the most significant events in our history – and not every proposal will progress to a UK coin.”
Polarised debate
Responses on social media have been polarised, with many people arguing whether it is fair or not to judge her by modern standards.
Author Matt Haig tweeted: “Not everyone had Enid Blyton’s values in Enid Blyton’s time.
“Enid Blyton wrote a book about an ‘ugly’ black doll as late as 1966 that was called out in newspapers at the time. Not everyone in the past was dripping in racism and anti-semitism and homophobia to the same extent.”
Not everyone had Enid Blyton’s values in Enid Blyton’s time. Enid Blyton wrote a book about an ‘ugly’ black doll as late as 1966 that was called out in newspapers at the time. Not everyone in the past was dripping in racism and anti-semitism and homophobia to the same extent.
— Matt Haig (@matthaig1) August 27, 2019
Controversial right wing commentator, Toby Young tweeted: “Baffled by Royal Mint’s decision not to include Enid Blyton on a commemorative coin because her books were politically incorrect by today’s standards.
“Shouldn’t she be celebrated for creating one of the first trans characters in children’s literature — George in the Famous Five?”
Baffled by Royal Mint’s decision not to include Enid Blyton on a commemorative coin because her books were politically incorrect by today’s standards. Shouldn’t she be celebrated for creating one of the first trans characters in children’s literature — George in the Famous Five?
— Toby Young (@toadmeister) August 27, 2019
Professor of black studies Kehinde Andrews appeared on Good Morning Britain to debate the issue and tweeted: “Only 1% of children’s books published in the UK in 2017 had an ethnic minority main character but people are getting mad that Enid Blyton never got a commemorative coin.”
Only 1% of children’s books published in the UK in 2017 had an ethnic minority main character but people are getting mad that Enid Blyton never got a commemorative coin🤦🏾♂️ I’ll be talking about the great work of @clpe1 on @GMB tomorrow at about 7.40https://t.co/t9LJFzjcnf
— Kehinde Andrews (@kehinde_andrews) August 26, 2019
Writer Paul Martinovic tweeted: “For everyone using the ‘don’t judge by modern standards’ line – Enid Blyton had a manuscript rejected by Macmillan in 1960 on the grounds of xenophobic content. An editorial decrying her racist book ‘The Little Black Doll’ was published by the Guardian in 1966. Don’t do this.”
He added: “Sorry if it puts a dent in your childhood memories (I loved her books too) but there are reams of publicly available material out there that, put together, make a pretty watertight case that Enid Blyton was a nasty piece of work.”
Sorry if it puts a dent in your childhood memories (I loved her books too) but there are reams of publicly available material out there that, put together, make a pretty watertight case that Enid Blyton was a nasty piece of work.
— Paul Martinovic (@paulmartinovic) August 27, 2019
