The Folk of the Faraway Tree [Hardcover]

Enid Blyton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1972

Jo, Bessie and Fanny are not happy when bossy Connie comes to stay. Together they climb through the cloud at the top of the Faraway Tree to explore the Land of Secrets and the Land of Treats, where Connie learns a lesson.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The third of Enid Blytons tales of the Enchanted Forest sees Joe, Beth and Frannie having to endure a visit from the selfish and spoilt daughter of their mums friend. Curious Connie is prim and proper and considers all she hears about enchanted forests and magic trees as nonsense, deriding the three happy children as old-fashioned and foolish, her nose turned up as she does do. Clearly starting off on the wrong foot with her hosts, Connie is the perfect doubting Thomas, setting herself up for a radical rethink when she encounters the very real and very bizarre characters of Moon-Face, Dame Washalot, Saucepan Man, and Mister Watzisname. And so the scene is once again set for the escapism that Enid Blyton conjures up so brilliantly in these stories. Things dont go well for the rather precious Connie on her first visit to the Faraway Tree, and she ends up in a right mess, and even worse, alone in the Land of Marvels. And, despite both her shortcomings and our better judgement, we end up feeling sorry for her. Taking a trip to the Land of Giants, the three children and their faraway friends follow the precocious visitor, who by now really is beginning to believe in all the nonsense about enchanted forests and fantastic worlds. Nursery Rhyme Land is replaced by the Land of Dame Snap, dominated by a somewhat scary schoolteacher who specializes in teaching naughty elves and pixies, and then the Land of Tea Parties - where the food-loving children cant quite believe their luck - gives way to the Land of Secrets. Connie changes, shedding her unpleasant image, as the adventures come thick and fast, and this book, like the others in the series, easily merits its reputation as an essential piece of childrens fantasy writing. (Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 185 pages
• Publisher: Hamlyn young books (January 1972)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0603032869
• ISBN-13: 978-0603032868
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,582,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern updates?, January 15, 2005

By 

Karen E. Durham "durhamquartet" (Kokomo, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Folk of the Faraway Tree (Paperback)

I cannot encourage teachers, librarians and parents enough to add Enid Blyton and especially this series to their shelves. Great bedtime read-aloud, excellent introduction to listening to chapter books.
Note to owners of older copies, this new version has been altered. I was slightly shocked when my copy arrived. The names of the children were different than in my old used copies of the first two stories! Bessie is Beth, Fannie is Frannie, Dick is Rick and Jo is Joe. It's not a big deal and I just say the old British version as I read aloud, but I wish I'd known that it had been revised. I also suspect that some words were 'updated', but it's not terribly noticable. I'm just glad another Blyton book is back in print!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, June 4, 2006

By 

Panini "moon" (Niskayuna, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Folk of the Faraway Tree (Paperback)

Myself and my brother read this book when we were young and enjoyed it tremendously. He recently bought it for his daughter and also gifted me a copy, which I am going to treasure.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A special book, January 9, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Folk of the Faraway Tree (Paperback)

My sister and I read this book as children,and really enjoyed it. It is the kind of humour and happenings that children love. I have tried for years to get a copy, but now it is finally being reprinted. I can't believe my good fortune!It is also a favourite of my own children. I will definately be buying several copies. Enid Blyton is the best!