 J.K Rowling's beloved child sorcerer may have sold billions, but he doesn't have the charisma of Timmy the Dog. Pic: Anthony Harvey
August 19, 2008 11:45 PM
by John Joseph
LONDON - Bestselling writer J.K. Rowling suffered a rare literary defeat yesterday when Enid Blyton was voted top of a poll to find Britain's best-loved author.
In second place was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory author Roald Dahl, with Rowling third.
Blyton has sold more than 500 million books worldwide and is best known for her Famous Five books of the 1940s and 50s in which Julian, Dick, Anne and George and Timmy the dog foil kidnappers and smugglers aided by "lashings" of ginger beer and cream buns.
Critics have long branded her books sexist, racist and
overly simplistic, but Blyton's stories remain hugely popular,
selling more than 10 million copies a year, drawing readers
into a bygone world of carefree kids and "beastly" grown-ups.
"We are delighted that the British public has voted Enid
Blyton its best-loved author," said Jeff Norton, director of
Brand Development at Chorion, owners of the Enid Blyton estate.
"Her storytelling is timeless and this result confirms that
her books are still a firm favorite today."
With the top three of the poll dominated by children's
authors, Jane Austen came fourth and Shakespeare was fifth,
while authors such as Philip Pullman and James Bond creator Ian
Fleming failed to make the top 50.
The poll of 2000 adults was commissioned to mark the 2008
Costa Book Awards. It was carried out in the first two weeks of
August by One Poll.
"What's interesting about this research is how it
reinforces the importance of childhood reading and demonstrates
how influenced we are in later life by the authors and books we
read as a child," said a Costa spokesman.
(Reuters Life!)
|
