The Jennings books, by Anthony Buckeridge

Was anyone else a fan of the adventures of boarding school pupil, Jennings and his friend, Darbishire?

I've just obtained and am reading According to Jennings again, after 35 years. In the middle of the book is a bit in which he and Darbishire-both only ten-years-old- hitchhike a car lift with an unknown man several miles into town, and nowhere is it suggested that this is at all an irresponsible thing to do. That certainly dates the books!

The books are also dated in lots of other ways, but I find that gives them their charm, along with their gentleness and humour

Yes. Although I always felt the Billy Bunter books had more "meat" to them.

You would say that. Do they say "Yaroo" as well? "Bongo-Bongo Land" as well, no doubt.

This is a very confused sentence Paul, with the multiple 'as wells'. Can you clarify what you are asking please?

Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 4th April 2014, 8:24 AM BST

You would say that FULL STOP Do they say "Yaroo" as well QUESTION MARK INDICATING END OF SENTENCE "Bongo-Bongo Land" as well, no doubt FULL STOP

View original

These questions may be rhetorical as well.

They don't. What do you mean by rhetorical in this context though?

Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 4th April 2014, 8:24 AM BST

You would say that. Do they say "Yaroo" as well? "Bongo-Bongo Land" as well, no doubt.

View original

The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.

I don't think we can judge attitudes and behaviours of over a century ago (when women hadn't yet got the vote, homosexuality was illegal, youths under 18 could still be hanged, corporal punishment was the norm and few people had travelled abroad and fewer still had any knowledge of different ethnicities) with what we deem acceptable today.

There is no evidence that the stories were racist, if that is what you are suggesting. Indeed, Huree Jamest Ram Singh is always depicted as one of the least offensive and most popular characters. The worst that the stories can be accused of is stereotyping, which is not surprising given the aforementioned lack of personal experience of different ethnic groups. Frank Richards (Charles Hamilton) himself never travelled further than France.

We are where we are. The books are of their time. If we did away with all books merely because they portrayed different social values to those of today, we would be going down a very slippery path (see Nazi Germany). And, by the same token, no doubt many of today's ideals will be looked upon with aghast in 100 years' time.

I read them years ago and all I can remember is hating Jennings and hoping he got shell shock on the first day of the Somme, fled and got shot weeping infront of a firing squad commanded by Billy Bunter.
The fat owl having swiped Jennings last supper.

Quote: Paul Wimsett @ 4th April 2014, 9:26 AM BST /p>

View original

Makes as much sense I guess.

So in a fight between Just William and Jennings who'd win?

Quote: sootyj @ 4th April 2014, 10:56 AM BST

I read them years ago and all I can remember is hating Jennings and hoping he got shell shock on the first day of the Somme, fled and got shot weeping infront of a firing squad commanded by Billy Bunter.
The fat owl having swiped Jennings last supper.

View original

Grub raiding was very popular in Bongo Bongo land.

Jennings, Just William and Bunter were all conceived and appeared in different times by the way. Jennings post Second World War, Bunter pre first and JW in the thirties I think.

Just checked on JW post First World War 1922

So you could have a Dr Who style episode where they all have to join up through out time to fight a supreme evil.
Like getting caned really badly on the bum or matron making them have a really big spoonfull of cod liver oil.

House Dame. Get it right. Man!

MarcP we can't all live in the 19th century thank you very much