Press
Press Release
08/19/2008
Enid Blyton Beats J. K. Rowling to take 'Best-Loved Author of All Time' Title
Tuesday 19th August 2008: One of the world's favourite storytellers, children's author Enid Blyton, has been named the best-loved author of all time, in a new poll released today by Costa, the UK's largest and fastest-growing coffee shop brand.
The creator of The Famous Five, Malory Towers and Noddy wrote more than 700 stories over a 40-year career, and has sold over 500 million books around the world. Despite her death in 1968, around eight million of her books are still sold worldwide every year, including more than a million Famous Five tales.
The results form part of a research project, commissioned to mark the 2008 Costa Book Awards, which looked into the British public's most cherished and best-loved authors of all time.
Fellow bestselling children's author, Roald Dahl, came second in the poll, thanks to his classic books including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda and The Witches. His books were so popular that many have gone on to become blockbuster films, including the most recent adaptation of Charlie and Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny Depp. His granddaughter, model Sophie Dahl, is continuing the family tradition and recently published her first novel, Playing with Grown-ups, in 2007.
And the poll proves that children's classics really are the best as Harry Potter author and creator J.K. Rowling came third and is one of only two modern writers in the top ten.
A spokesman for Costa, which carried out the poll, said, "Enid Blyton has kept millions of children entertained over the years with her tales of mystery, adventure and magic. To top the poll of best-loved authors, as well as still selling millions of books around the world, shows her stories are timeless and will be read by children for years to come."
Jeff Norton, Director of Brand Development at Chorion, owners of the Enid Blyton publishing estate, responded: "We are delighted that the British public has voted Enid Blyton its best-loved author. Her storytelling is timeless and this result confirms that her books are still a firm favourite today. What makes Blyton so successful is her imaginative, exciting and magical style. Her writing has sent countless young readers on thrilling adventures and we hope that new generations will continue to enjoy her enchanting stories."
Fourth place in the poll of 2,000 adults comes Jane Austen, while William Shakespeare, generally regarded as the greatest playwright of all time, makes it in at number five.
Charles Dickens was voted into sixth place, closely followed by J.R.R Tolkien, author of the sweeping Lord of the Rings epic, in seventh. Agatha Christie is at number eight in the poll, with horror writer Stephen King named as the ninth best-loved author. Beatrix Potter completes the top ten.
The popularity of children's authors continues throughout the top 50 ? as well as making up the top three, it also includes former Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson at 15, young adult writer, Judy Blume at 33 and Cat in the Hat creator, Dr Seuss, at 39.
A spokesman for Costa added: "'What's interesting about this research is how it reinforces the importance of childhood reading and demonstrates how influenced we are in later life by the authors and books we read as a child. We're genuinely surprised and delighted with the results of the research as the Costa Book Awards is of course unique in that it's the only literary prize where children's books are judged alongside adult books."
Surprisingly author Philip Pullman does not appear in the top 50. Other notable omissions include Ian Fleming, Winnie-the-Pooh author A.A. Milne, Iris Murdoch and Bridget Jones's Diary creator, Helen Fielding.
Da Vinci Code writer Dan Brown appears in the poll at number 19. As well as selling 57 million copies of the smash hit novel since its release in 2003, the Da Vinci Code was also turned into a film released in 2006, starring Tom Hanks.
Other popular writers in the poll include Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Jackie Collins and Danielle Steel.
The top 50 best-loved authors are:
1. Enid Blyton
2. Roald Dahl
3. J.K. Rowling
4. Jane Austen
5. William Shakespeare
6. Charles Dickens
7. J.R.R. Tolkien
8. Agatha Christie
9. Stephen King
10. Beatrix Potter
11. C.S. Lewis
12. Catherine Cookson
13. Martina Cole
14. Bill Bryson
15. Charlotte Bronte
16. Jacqueline Wilson
17. Oscar Wilde
18. Maeve Binchy
19. Dan Brown
20. Emily Bronte
21. Jackie Collins
22. Martin Amis
23. Isaac Asimov
24. Margaret Atwood
25. John Grisham
26. Marian Keyes
27. H.G.Wells
28. Alan Bennett
29. Arthur C. Clarke
30. George Orwell
31. Danielle Steel
32. Iain Banks
33. Judy Blume
34. Jodi Picoult
35. Arthur Conan Doyle
36. Peter Ackroyd
37. Kingsley Amis
38. P.G Wodehouse
39. Dr. Seuss
40. Mark Twain
41. J. G. Ballard
42. Thomas Hardy
43. James Patterson
44. Ian Rankin
45. Leo Tolstoy
46. Irvine Welsh
47. Jilly Cooper
48. Beryl Bainbridge
49. Ray Bradbury
50. Geoffrey Chaucer
The Costa Book Awards, formerly the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing and have the single aim of celebrating the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland.
Since 1971, the awards have recognised a wide range of books and authors across all genres, and the Costa Book Awards is the only book prize to use a category system that includes First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book.
Three out of the 50 authors selected have previously won Whitbread Book Awards. Roald Dahl, who appears at number two in the top 50, won the 1983 Whitbread Children's Book Award for The Witches; the only literary prize Dahl was ever awarded. Beryl Bainbridge took the Novel award in 1982 for Injury Time and then again in 1996 for Every Man for Himself. Jacqueline Wilson was shortlisted in 1999 for the Children's Book of the Year for The Illustrated Mum but the award eventually went to J.K. Rowling for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
For more information on this year's awards, go to www.costabookawards.com.
-ENDS-
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For further press information please contact:
Amanda Johnson at the Costa Book Awards
Telephone: 07715 922 180 (mobile)
Email: amanda@amandajohnsonpr.com
Notes to Editors:
The survey figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
About the Costa Book Awards:
? The Costa Book Awards, formerly the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing.
? The Costa Book Awards recognise the most enjoyable books of the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland across five categories; First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book.
? The total prize fund for the Costa Book Awards stands at ?50,000. The award winners from the five categories - Novel, First Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book - each receive ?5,000.
? The overall Costa Book of the Year is selected from the five category Award winners with the winner receiving a further ?25,000.
? The winner of the Costa Book of the Year 2008 will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel, central London on Tuesday, January 27th 2009.
? The 2007 winner of the Costa Book of the Year was A.L. Kennedy for Day (Cape).
About Costa:
? Costa is now officially the largest and fastest growing coffee shop chain in the UK. It opened its 1000th milestone store in March 2008 in Moscow.
? Costa was founded by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971. With over 700 stores in the UK and over 300 internationally, Costa has enjoyed a remarkable period of growth since it opened its first store. It now operates in 22 countries.
? Costa Coffee is the first UK coffee shop chain to commit sourcing Rainforest Alliance Certified Coffee.
? Costa's in-store baristas are all coached in the art of coffee making at the company's unique Costa Coffee Academy based at its own roastery in Lambeth, London.
? Costa has won the British Sandwich Association's award for Best Coffee Bar Retailer 2008.
? Costa has been voted as one of the strongest UK brands by experts and consumers and has been awarded ?Superbrand' status
? Costa set up a registered charity (no.327489) in 2007 called ?The Costa Foundation' to give something back to the communities within the countries from which Costa sources its coffee beans.
? Costa is part of the Whitbread family of brands.
About One Poll:
? All figures, unless stated, are from One Poll.
? Total sample size was 2,000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken in August 2008 and carried out online.
About Enid Blyton
? Enid Blyton, (1897-1968), wrote over 700 books which are estimated to have sold more than 540 million copies worldwide.
? Her books remain timeless classics which are adored by children throughout the world.
? The Enid Blyton publishing estate is owned and managed by Chorion (www.chorion.co.uk).
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