Customer Reviews

The Secret of the Old Clock/The Hidden Staircase/The Bungalow Mystery/The Mystery at Lilac Inn/The Secret of Shadow Ranch/The Secret of Red Gate Farm (Nancy Drew, Book 1-6) (75th Anniversary Gift Set)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I started reading Nancy Drew mysteries in the late 1960s, so most of the books I read had already been updated. I did always seem to prefer the older versions when I could get my hands on them, because I loved the illustrations, but I did not know that even the older versions I read were condensed versions of the original books that were written in the 1930s. Thus, when I found the collectors' edition for sale on Amazon, I just had to make the purchase. Was it worth it? I discovered that I already had copies of most of the mysteries on my bookshelf, which meant that even though the stories were slightly different, it was not like reading a completely new mystery, so I was slightly disappointed on that count. On the other hand, the illustrations in these books are superb, and the old-timey dialogue and character descriptions really make me feel like I have stepped back in time, or maybe just found a treasure chest in an old attic, so I would have to say that yes, it was worth it. In sum, if you have already read the titles in the collectors' edition and you aren't much for re-runs in general, then maybe this Amazon purchase is not for you. But if you used to be or still are a big Nancy Drew fan, and/or if you just have a thing for things of the past, then I think you will love this lovely collection of Nancy Drew mysteries.

This boxed set of the first six Nancy Drew books is beautifully presented and the hardback books are an exact reproduction of the first edition stories originally published in 1930 which makes them unique as other less expensive editions are updated, rewritten, condensed and the most recent editions now contain cartoon type drawings which in no way represent the original books.

Nancy Drew books are classics and this is a beautiful keepsake for any literature lover - something to be kept in the family and handed down from mother to daughter as my daughter intends.

When this book series arrived, the first impression that it made on me was that it was a sturdy and quality product. The wholesome nature of the Nancy Drew series makes this a must-have for your children's library. If you are looking for a great book series that will pass down the generations, this is a very good choice.

My niece turned nine this year and I was delighted to find this Nancy Drew set for her - it's like the original and I hope to share many hours reading this with her. I hope they continue with another set and then another - for anyone who read Nancy Drew as a child - what is there to say except "wonderful"

First let's talk about the glitzy part: This is beautifully packaged. Why is that important? Because girls love nice things. We love presents all beautifully presented,don't we? Contained within a blue case, the six books all have dust jackets with the reproduction of the original colour artworks. Under the dust jackets the books are hard bound with with a light blue cover and the classic orange nancy drew silouette bending over her magnifying glass. This is all a reproduction of the original way the books were when made originally in 1931.

Now let's get to the substance: And here's the important part. These books are reproductions of the original stories as written in the 1930s. They have not been revised or 'updated' or shortened or made 'politically correct'.(Most of the nancy drew out there is NOT original). You get to read Nancy Drew as she was originally written in 1931 and she is a fiesty, very independant, compassionate, daring , brave 16 year old girl, who drives a blue roadster everywhere, and who has a loving dad who grants her true independance while always offering and giving support when she needs it. This girl changes tyres, survives wild storms, outwits criminals and above all is courageous and caring all at once.
These stories, with their quaint language, and their 1930s viewpoint of the world lets girls dream again,lets them believe strong teenagers with values are cool, and this is what makes Nancy Drew a powerful mentor.
In fact, in the introductions, some well known authors have written about how Nancy Drew inspired them in their own lives, which I personally found very interesting.

And finally, the acid test: My 12 year old daughter had already read the modern versions of many nancy drew mysteries but when I gave her this set she said to me:
"Mummy,I absolutely love how Nancy Drew is so brave,and great at sports ,and smart!! and she drives, and I love the old Nancy Drew sooo much better ." She has stopped reading the 'new' Nancy Drew and is eagerly awaiting my purchase of the next lot of original Nancy Drew.
And isn't that great? Because as all mums know, we want our teenage daughters to be brave, happy, healthy and eager to see all of life as a challenging adventure. Just like Nancy Drew.

My first Amazon purchase was excellent. A nice set of books at a fair price and delivered quickly. No complaints!

I bought these books for my granddaughters birthday and she loved them. She really liked that they were in a case so she could keep them altogether. They arrived really quick.

My mother gave me my first Nancy Drew book in 1960 for my 10th birthday. She had enjoyed the books as a child in the 1930's and passed the love of reading these books to me. I then passed them to my daughter and she to my granddaughter. I never liked the rewritten stories as they were bland and unexciting...and to turn Nancy into a Titian haired beauty was too much for me! I truly love these books as the Applewood editions are just as Nancy appeared 75 years ago. I can get over the racial steriotypes and feel the atmosphere of 75 years ago. I hope that if you or your children liked the Nancy Drew movie that came out a few years ago, you might really like these editions. Nancy seems the same. and that's a good thing!

I was so happy to find this collection as a birthday gift for my 9-year-old granddaughter. I read these books when I was about the same age myself; found the original editions that had belonged to my aunt on my grandmother's bookshelf when visiting for the summer. I LOVE the original wording/vocabulary of the originals; was appalled at how they have been altered in some of the "newer" copies. I think the original editions have greater educational value, as well as a "poetry of language" that has been sacrificed in efforts to "modernize" and make the texts less challenging. These older books are what the Joy of Reading is all about.

To countless boys and girls of past generations the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series are like old friends. Over the years both series were "updated" with more modern language. They also had their racial stereotypes cut out. For better or worse these gems of childhood literature live on in the way they were originally meant. Few things beat curling up with one on a dark and stormy night.