Enid Blyton novels being HIDDEN in libraries in
bizarre new woke driver
Enid Blyton's novels have been removed from library
shelves in Devon and stored in back rooms over concerns that the language used
in her books is "outdated" and could offend readers, despite the
council stating it has no policy on trigger warnings.
By HELEN
BARNETT
16:01, Sun,
Mar 19, 2023 | UPDATED: 16:44, Sun, Mar 19, 2023
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1748307/Enid-Blyton-books-libraries-woke
Blyton's
700-plus collection have been removed from Devon library shelves
Enid
Blyton's famous novels are being kept from view in libraries for fear of
offending readers.
Uncensored
original versions of some of Blyton's 700-plus collection have been removed
from Devon library shelves and stored in back rooms to prevent the public
"stumbling upon" language that is "outdated".
Although
listed on the online library catalogue, readers can only get their hands on
earlier editions of the texts if they specifically ask librarians for them. At
this point they will be verbally given a trigger warning about the language
contained within.
This is
despite Devon County Council saying in a Freedom of Information request in
October it "does not currently have a policy regarding trigger warning or
content warnings".
In
documents, Devon County Council said: "Where popular books have language
that is increasingly outdated (Enid Blyton is the best example) we continue to
purchase new editions where publishers have updated the language within."
Enid Blyton
wrote hundreds of books in her career between 1922 and 1968. Her
internationally-admired works include the Famous Five, Secret Seven and Noddy,
and more than 600 million copies have been sold.
Dr Byrn
Harris, of the Free Speech Union, said he was “bemused” that Blyton’s famous
stories were being treated as “dangerous and subversive samizdat”.
He added:
“Public libraries obviously cannot stock everything, but by law they must
provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service."
“Deliberately
holding back certain works and making them less accessible might fall short of
that standard, especially if the reasons for doing so are of dubious relevance
– for instance, because the librarian finds those works subjectively
offensive."
Blyton’s
older editions sit out of view with the autobiography of Tommy Robinson, the
founder of the English Defence League.
There are
also other unnamed texts which have been removed “following customer and/or
staff complaints”, the Telegraph reports.
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