Mystery of Banshee Towers
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Mystery of Banshee Towers by Enid Blyton was the last (15th) children's novel in a series, known collectively as The Five Find-Outers, that ran from the mid 1940's to this one, published in 1961[1]. Opinions on the novel differ[2]. Partly this is because adults who enjoyed Blyton as a child revise their opinion of her when casting an adult eye over stories not read for many years [3].
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
In this installment, the five young sleuths are joined by Mr Goon's much put-upon nephew Ern and his new dog, Bingo.
[edit] Plot summary
Together, they visit an old stately home which is hosting some famous sea paintings, which Ern and Little Bets love and the others can take or leave. The plot hinges on the fact that Ern spots that on subsequent visits a little boat he particularly admired in the piece de resistance of the collection is missing, and that on pointing this out to the crusty curator and volatile owner the children unknowingly place themselves in great danger.........
[edit] Characters
The Five Find-Outers and Dog
1. Fatty (Real name: Frederick Algernon Trotenville)
2. Larry (Real name: Lawrence Daykin)
3. Daisy (Real name: Margaret Daykin)
4. Pip (Real name: Philip Hilton)
5. Bets (Real name: Elizabeth Hilton)
6. Ern Goon
7. Buster (Pet of Fatty)
8. Bingo (Pet of Ern Goon)
The Police Force
1. Mr. Goon (Real name: Theophilus Goon)
2. Superintendent Jenks
The "Jolly Bad Lot" persons
1. Flint
2. Mr. Engler
3. Poussin
4. Francois Henri Ortalo
[edit] Quotes
Chapter 1
"...silly following a chap-with-a-cat instead of a boy-with-a-dog!" said Fatty.
Chapter 2
"I've been sent to stay with my Uncle Theo - Mr. Goon" "...measles and I haven't had it - at least, Mum can't remember me having it. Can I come in?" said Ern. "...not get under his feet, and use my loaf..." "...we must ALL use our - er - loaves. Are we allowed any butter with them, Ern?"
Chapter 3
"...especially Frederick Algernon Troteville - pah!" "Who's he talking about?" said Ern, in wonder, as Goon went indoors... "Me, I'm afraid," said Fatty. "Those are my real names, you know, Ern. I try to forget them, though..."
Chapter 4
"...them to move OFF instead of move ON, they'd understand better"
Chapter 5
"...someone might ask you questions, and you'd answer - and someone else might suffer...like the Boy Scouts..."
"I always have to go into long, long explanations when I want to borrow ..."
Bets asked how to spell 'Banshee' so everyone at one knew one of her choices!
Chapter 6
"...hunting round for rats for hours," said Ern...
Chapter 7
"...charge for cats? I can see one sitting in your office."
"And what about horses?" said Larry, joining in. "Any objection to horses or a sheep or two?"
Chapter 8
"And you - you stay here to wail, wail, wail? Ah, what a naughty boy!"
Chapter 9
"...something's going on up there." "Up where?" asked Ern. "Banshee Hill, idiot," said Fatty.
"...you, I smell the mystery!" "Well, you must have the most powerful nose anybody ever had," said Larry. "All I can smell is that oil-stove smoking. I suppose your nose is too high and mighty to smell ordinary things like that..."
Chapter 10
"Now, now - mustn't be rude. Mustn't lose tempers! Don't want to put you in a corner"
Chapter 11
"Not the right day?"
Chapter 12
..., exasperated, "I tell you the boat was in THAT PARTICULAR PICTURE I SAW YESTERDAY AND THE DAY BEFORE! ..."
