The Magic Faraway Tree (novel)

The Magic Faraway Tree is a children's novel by Enid Blyton, first published in 1943.

This article is about the novel. For the series which includes this novel, see The Faraway Tree.
The Magic Faraway Tree 23
First edition cover by Dorothy M. Wheeler
AuthorEnid Blyton
Illustratorvarious over the years
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Faraway Tree
GenreFantasy
PublisherGeorge Newnes (1943)
Hamlyn (1971)
Publication date
1943
Preceded byThe Enchanted Wood 
Followed byThe Folk of the Faraway Tree 

It is the second book in the The Faraway Tree series of children's novels. Jo, Bessie and Fanny (renamed Joe, Beth and Frannie in later editions), the protagonists of the series, have their cousin Dick (renamed Rick in later editions) over to stay with them. They then introduce him to Silky, Moon-Face, Saucepan Man and all their other friends in the Magic Faraway Tree.

In 2003, it was voted #66 in the BBC's Big Read poll to find the UK's favourite book.[1]

The book is also heavily referenced in the graphic novel V for Vendetta, in which the third book is called 'The Land of Do-as-you-please" and includes V reading The Magic Faraway Tree to Evey Hammond.

Lands In the Series
  • The Land of Topsy Turvy

This land is a peculiar place where everybody walks on their hands and everything is upside down. A policeman gets angry at Jo, so he puts a spell on Jo to turn him on his hands too.

  • The Land of Spells

There are many witches and wizards with spells in this land and Jo gets put back right side up, by a friendly old witch.

  • The Land of Dreams

Here everything that happens is very dream-like and unreal. The characters get stuck in this land because the Sandman throws sand in the children's eyes to make them sleep.

  • The Land of Do-As-You-Please

In this land, anybody can do what they want and the children have great fun. Jo gets to drive a train, and all of them get to wade in the ocean.

  • The Land of Toys

Saucepan man accidentally thinks of this land to be The Land of Goodies, so he gets imprisoned for stealing candy. Jo and the others rescue him from jail.

  • The Land of Goodies

This land is filled with free goodies such as cake and treacle pudding. Rick eats a knocker from one of the resident's houses, getting in trouble.

  • The Land of the Old Woman

Dame Washalot's friend, the old woman who lives in a shoe, comes down the faraway tree to live in Moonface's house. The children lure her back to her land, with Rick making up for his mistake in The Land of Goodies and saving his friends.

  • The Land of Magic Medicines

The children's mother is ill, so the children visit this land to buy her medicine.

  • The Land of Tempers

In this land everyone has a bad temper and if anyone loses their temper here, they will have to stay in the land forever.

  • The Land of Presents

A place full of presents, which the children go around picking up for each other and their parents.

Modern alterations

The modern reprints have altered the names of the main characters. Jo is now Joe, Bessie is now Beth from the original Elizabeth. Dick and Fanny have been changed to Rick and Frannie, due to the modern sexual connotations of the original names.

Film adaptation

In October 2014 it was announced there would be a big screen adaptation of The Magic Faraway Tree, to be made by Sam Mendes' production company Neal Street Productions.[2] In November 2017, Simon Farnaby, who had previously written the screenplay for Paddington 2, confirmed that he was working on the project, a collaboration between Neal Street Productions and StudioCanal UK.[3]

Points
  1. "Top 100 Books". BBC - The Big Read. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  2. "Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree set for cinema". BBC News. 22 October 2014.
  3. "Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree to be made into film". BBC News. 20 November 2017.
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