Five get into a fix (by Enid Blyton)

Having never so much as dipped my toes into the Famous Five series before, yesterday I started reading a scruffy second-hand copy of Enid Blyton’s Five get into a fix (1942). The edition I’m reading has a black-and-white illustration every chapter, but they’re somewhat dull and character-less, so I went ahead and bashed one out myself – learning a lot about photoshop colouring techniques along the way.

The Five are taking a winter holiday in the Welsh mountains and in this scene, George has just rescued Timmy from an attack by three dogs belonging to the caretaker’s son. George, by the way, is a girl – a tomboy – and Timmy is a dog (but still one of the Five)

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“… the giantlike figure of Morgan came round the corner of the barn, his three dogs, extremely subdued now, at his heels.

‘Hey?’ he said, inquiringly, looking at the four children and his mother.

‘The dogs attacked this one,’ explained his mother. ‘You shouted just in time, Morgan. But he’s not much hurt. You should have seen this boy here – the one the dog belongs to – he stood in front of his dog, and fought off Tang, Bob and Dai!’

Julian couldn’t help smiling to hear George continually called a boy – but, standing there in snow-trousers and coat, a woollen cap on her short hair, she looked very like a sturdy boy.”

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George is definitely my favourite character!