Five Run Away Together

Last updated

Five Run Away Together
Five Run Away Together(novel) coverart.jpg
Original 1944 first edition cover
Author Enid Mary Blyton
Cover artist Eileen Alice Soper
LanguageEnglish
Series The Famous Five
Genre Mystery, Adventure novel
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Publication date
1944
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Preceded by Five Go Adventuring Again (1943) 
Followed by Five Go To Smuggler's Top (1945) 

Five Run Away Together (published in 1944) is the third book in the Famous Five series by the British author Enid Blyton.

Contents

Plot

Julian, Dick and Anne arrive in Kirrin Cottage to stay with George (real name Georgina) for the holidays. They plan to spend time exploring Kirrin Island but their happiness is spoilt when Aunt Fanny falls ill and has to leave with Uncle Quentin to be treated in a far-off hospital. They are cared for by Aunt Fanny's temporary cook, Mrs. Stick, who is accompanied by her husband and their nasty, tiresome son Edgar. The Sticks and the four children come to hate each other. Mrs Stick repeatedly tries to poison George's dog Timmy, prompting George to hatch a secret plan to run away to Kirrin Island. When Julian catches her leaving, she decides to allow the other children to go with her.

The children find evidence of other people visiting the island and suspect smugglers. The discovery of a young girl's toys and clothes point to something more sinister going on and they then discover the Sticks have imprisoned a young girl, Jennifer Armstrong, on the island and are holding her for ransom. After tormenting the Sticks into a retreat, the children rescue the girl and take her to the police, who are amazed to see the child that "the whole country is looking for." The police accompany them back to the island in time to trap and arrest the Sticks. The kidnapped girl's father then allows her to spend a week with her new friends on Kirrin Island.

TV adaptation

In the 1970s series, Mrs Stick is first seen with her husband who drives her to Kirrin Cottage at the beginning; in the book Mr Stick does not make an appearance until he confronts Julian when the latter steals food from the pantry after Mrs Stick refuses to feed the children properly. Aunt Fanny is not ill, but she does leave the children in order to care for a sick relative. Jennifer Armstrong and her family are never mentioned, although the Sticks kidnap George and Dick before Julian and Anne rescue them.

In the 1990s TV series, Jennifer's father is General Armstrong, who has information on the Gemini project. Jennifer's kidnapping is shown as she is snatched from her bed, then bound and gagged and left in the cave before the Five rescue her. When they leave they bind and gag Edgar, the Sticks' son. In the book, she is kidnapped while playing in the garden. The Sticks are the only ones mentioned to be involved in the crime. Aunt Fanny (re-named Aunt Francis) is not taken sick, but she goes to visit a friend, who needs support having broken her leg.

Characters

Related Research Articles

<i>The Famous Five</i> Series of childrens novels by Enid Blyton

The Famous Five is a series of children's adventure novels and short stories written by English author Enid Blyton. The first book, Five on a Treasure Island, was published in 1942. The novels feature the adventures of a group of young children – Julian, Dick, Anne, George and their dog Timmy.

<i>Five Go Mad in Dorset</i> 1982 episode of The Comic Strip

Five Go Mad in Dorset was the first of three Five Go Mad specials from the long-running series of The Comic Strip Presents... television comedy films. It first aired on the launch night of Channel 4, and was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Bob Spiers. It was entirely filmed in Devon rather than Dorset.

<i>Five on a Treasure Island</i> 1942 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five on a Treasure Island is a popular children's book by Enid Blyton. It is the first book in The Famous Five series. The first edition of the book was illustrated by Eileen Soper.

<i>Five Go Adventuring Again</i> 1943 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go Adventuring Again is the second book in the Famous Five series by British author Enid Blyton.

<i>Five Go to Smugglers Top</i> 1945 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go to Smuggler's Top is the fourth book in the Famous Five series by the British author Enid Blyton.

<i>Five Go Off in a Caravan</i> 1946 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go Off In A Caravan is the fifth book in the Famous Five series by the British author, Enid Blyton and published by Hodder and Stoughton. The book includes a circus boy character named Nobby, whose name was changed to Ned when publisher Hodder Children's Books made extensive editorial revisions to the Famous Five series of books.

<i>Five Get into a Fix</i> 1958 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Get into a Fix is a children's novel written by Enid Blyton and published by Hodder and Stoughton in 1958. It is the seventeenth book in the Famous Five series.

<i>Five Go to Mystery Moor</i> 1954 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go to Mystery Moor is a popular children's book written by Enid Blyton. It is the thirteenth novel in the Famous Five series of books.

<i>Five Have a Wonderful Time</i> 1952 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Have A Wonderful Time is a popular children's book written by Enid Blyton. It is the eleventh novel in the Famous Five series of books.

<i>Five on Kirrin Island Again</i> 1947 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five On Kirrin Island Again is the sixth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in October 1947.

<i>Five Get into Trouble</i> 1949 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Get into Trouble is the eighth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1949. In this novel, Dick gets kidnapped, mistaken for another boy whose name is Richard.

<i>Five Fall into Adventure</i> 1950 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Fall Into Adventure is the ninth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1950.

<i>Five on a Hike Together</i> 1951 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five on a Hike Together is the tenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1951.

<i>Five Have Plenty of Fun</i> 1955 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Have Plenty Of Fun is the 14th novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1955 by Hodder & Stoughton.

<i>Five on a Secret Trail</i> 1956 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five on a Secret Trail is the fifteenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1956.

<i>Five Go to Billycock Hill</i> 1957 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go to Billycock Hill is the sixteenth novel in the Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1957.

<i>Five Go to Demons Rocks</i> 1961 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go to Demon's Rocks is the nineteenth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1961.

<i>Five Go Down to the Sea</i> 1953 childrens novel by Enid Blyton

Five Go Down To The Sea is the twelfth novel in The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton. It was first published in 1953.

<i>The Famous Five</i> (1978 TV series) British childrens TV series (1978–1979)

The Famous Five is a British television series based on the children's books of the same name by Enid Blyton. It was broadcast on ITV over two series in 1978 and 1979. It was produced by Southern Television in 26 half-hour episodes.

<i>Famous Five</i> (film) 2012 German childrens film directed by Mike Marzuk

Famous Five is a 2012 German children's film. Directed by Mike Marzuk, it is a film adaptation of The Famous Five series by Enid Blyton, which is based primarily on the 1947 book Five on Kirrin Island Again.