English Heritage has confirmed it has “no plans whatsoever” to remove a blue plaque for children’s author Enid Blyton after the organisation said her work has been linked to racism and xenophobia.
The late Famous Five author is commemorated with a plaque from the heritage organisation outside her former home in Chessington, south-west London.
An article on English Heritage’s website about the author noted that Blyton’s work “has been criticised during her lifetime and after for its racism, xenophobia and lack of literary merit”.
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.
We can fit about 19 words on each plaque. Our website provides a fuller picture of the person's life, including any uncomfortable aspects.
— English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) June 17, 2021
It noted that her story The Little Black Doll was criticised after “the doll of the title, Sambo, is only accepted by his owner once his ‘ugly black face’ is washed ‘clean’ by rain”.
It also claimed Blyton was rejected by the Royal Mint for commemoration on a 50p coin because she was “a racist, sexist, homophobe and not a very well-regarded writer”.
English Heritage is updating its online entries about blue plaque recipients “to provide a fuller picture of each person’s life, including aspects that people may find troubling”, a statement from the organisation said.
The online entry about Blyton was updated in July last year.
After English Heritage’s biography of the writer hit the headlines, the organisation tweeted a defence of the article.
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. https://t.co/wAgxo6KGmQ
— English Heritage (@EnglishHeritage) June 17, 2021
“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.
“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.”
Comedian David Baddiel was among those to comment on English Heritage’s biography of the late writer.
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.”
Re Enid Blyton – racism, yes, xenophobia, yes, but "lack of literary merit" about books that have sold 600 million copies just sounds weirdly snooty.
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) June 17, 2021
Botanist and 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?”
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?
— James Wong (@Botanygeek) June 17, 2021
Blyton, who also wrote stories including Noddy and Malory Towers, died in 1968 aged 71.