THE FAMOUS FIVE – FIVE ON A HIKE TOGETHER

 

The Famous Five Series by author Enid Blyton has always been my favorite, since childhood. The title of the book ‘The Famous Five’, points at the five characters- Julian, Dick, Anne, their cousin George and her dog, Timmy. From each book I read before, it is clearly indicated by the author, that mysteries and adventures revolve around some specific folks, such as ‘The Five’.

I recently read ‘Five on a hike together’ from the series. In this episode, the boys & girls get a half-term weekend break from their respective schools and meet together to go on a hike to countryside moorlands. The author gave a beautiful narration of the natural surroundings of the small villages and moorlands in 1950’s England. Julian, the eldest of all, decides to spend the first night at the Blue Pond Farm-House, when Timmy hurts his leg, trying to enter a rabbit hole. They split into two pairs. Dick and Anne take the way to the farmhouse while Julien and George take Timmy to Mr. Gaston, a nice person, who can treat dogs.

Dick and Anne get lost in the dark and enters a deaf old woman’s cottage.  To hide Anne from her ill-tempered son, the old woman sends a frightened Anne up at the cottage’s attic, while Dick ends up spending the night in a nearby barn and that’s when things start to happen. Dick gets a mysterious message from a prison escaper, who mistakes Dick for Dirty Dick, the old woman’s son and one of the shady criminals in the story. The escaped convict gives Dick clues of whereabouts of a stolen loot, tells him “And Maggie knows too” and runs away. Dick finds the encounter strange. Next day, the five reunites and discusses the matter over breakfast. They decide to go much deeper into the mystery.

Following the message that given to Dick, the five reaches Gloomy Waters. The climax starts when the Five decides to stay there and encounter the criminals- Maggy and Dirty Dick, hunting on the same trail.

The author succeeds in rising eagerness and suspicion among readers, each time. The Famous Five solves all mysteries as an unbreakable team while having lots of fun and teasing, at the same time. Special mention must be done about the Five’s love for Hams, bacon, and ginger beer. It’s a must-read for people of all age groups, especially for those who love mystery stories.