The Folk of the Faraway Tree
(publ. George Newnes)
The Folk of the Faraway Tree is a children's novel in the The Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1946.
It is the third book in the series, in which Jo, Bessie and Fanny introduce their mother's friend's daughter, Connie, to Silky, Moonface, Saucepan Man and all the rest of their friends in the Magic Faraway Tree.
At first Connie does not believe such a place exists but she ends up liking the Faraway Tree very much, and is sad to have to leave. Connie is also very snoopy leading to the nickname Curious Connie.
Lands in the book
- The Land of Marvels
It is filled with all kinds of marvels: a cat telling fortunes, a ladder with no top, even a singing tree. Connie goes here, gives the fortune-telling cat a slap, gets in trouble with an old dame, and hides up the ladder with no top where she is rescued by Moonface.
- The Land of Giants
This is the land Jack's beanstalk led to. The children, Saucepan, Silky and Moonface go through here to rescue Connie.
- The Nursery Rhyme Land
All nursery rhyme people live here. The children all go up to visit Miss Muffet. They have to rescue Saucepan from her spider.
- The Land of Dame Slap (Dame Snap in modern editions)
Where Dame Slap has a school for bad pixies and fairies. The friends go to visit Mrs Saucepan (Saucepan Man's mom) and get caught by Dame Slap.
- The Land of Tea Parties
A place for tea parties, with rabbit waiters. It is connected to Dame Slap's land. They all celebrate Mrs Saucepan's birthday here.
- The Land of Secrets
- The Land of Enchantments
- The Land of Know-Alls
In this land there is a hill with three doors in its side. People visit this land to find out anything they wish to know. The three doors have three different names on them. The names represent three different know-alls who can answer everyone's questions.
- The Land of Treats
Plot summary
Jo, Bessie and Fanny (or Joe, Beth and Frannie) have Connie over to stay because her mother is sick. Connie is stuck up and bossy and does not believe in magic. She says that Dick (or Rick) told her all about his stay in the country. The children are overwhelmed because it does not seem like Dick/Rick to tell stories. She calls the Enchanted Wood silly, the Faraway Tree ridiculous, Moonface, Dame Washalot and Mr Watizisname stupid, Saucepan Man mad and says that magic is made up and old fashioned. The three children get mad at her for calling their friends rude names and old fashioned.
After she arrives, Moonface comes. Connie does not believe that Moonface is real so he tells her to think that it is a dream. Connie soon believes them and has a wonderful time in the country. She then regrets that she has to leave.
They have a wonderful time with Connie although she does lead to trouble like going up to the Land of Marvels and climbing up the Ladder That Has No Top. Good thing Moonface saves her. Another time she listens to some else's secret in the Land of Secrets. Mrs Hidden takes away her voice and the children have to get it back. Luckily, the Land of Enchantments comes after The Land of Secrets leaves. Lastly, Connie's third mistake is mistaking Dame Slap (or Snap) for Mrs Saucepan (Saucepan's mother, who is the cook at Dame Slap's school). In the end, they all have to join Dame Slap's school except Fanny and Bessie who have to help out in the kitchen because Mrs Saucepan quits when Saucepan arrives. They are rescued by Saucepan who arrived earlier and was walking around with his mother.
External links
- Enid Blyton Society page
- The Folk of the Faraway Tree, plot summary and review by Prabhu Viswanathan