The Famous Five

The Famous Five are a group of child detectives (actually four children and a dog) created by Enid Blyton. Blyton wrote several such detective series, but the Famous Five are the best-known and most popular of these. Some of the books have been adapted for television, and they also inspired the Comic Strip parody, Five Go Mad in Dorset.

The first books in the series were written during the 1940s, and some of the basic concepts now seem ultra-English and extremely dated. Three of the children, Julian, Dick and Anne, are siblings. During their holidays, they are regularly sent to stay with their Aunt Fanny and Uncle Quentin, whose daughter, Georgina, is a tomboy always known as "George". Every time they come together, they find themselves obliged to solve a serious crime, the location of which tends to vary slightly. Sometimes it will happen close to George's home, and "Kirrin Island", a private island belonging to her parents, presents many opportunities for such activities. On other occasions, the children may go camping or hiking or be sent on holiday together elsewhere, but they are always accompanied by George's dog, Timmy.

Titles in the series include:

• Five on a Treasure Island
• Five Go Adventuring Again
• Five Run Away Together
• Five on Kirrin Island Again
• Five Go off to Camp
• Five Fall into Adventure
• Five Go to Smugglers' Top
• Five Go Down to the Sea