Blyton nears 50 for HCG as Malory TV talks progress

Hachette Children’s Group (HCG) has sold Enid Blyton into a 42nd language and is “on track” to hit 50 languages in two years’ time, rights director Andy Sharp (pictured) told The Bookseller Daily.

He spoke to The Bookseller after a HCG conference announcing a raft of initiatives around the venerable brand was held at yesterday’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair (26th March).

He said the group had recently sold Blyton into Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, Georgia and Serbia, and has struck deals for the writer’s Famous Five series in numerous countries since last year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair, including Norway and Indonesia.

New Blyton publishing this year includes a reissue of the Secret Seven series with new covers by illustrator Tony Ross, and a new Seven adventure written by Pamela Butchart. In the autumn HCG will release gift books including a Treasury of Bedtime Stories, illustrated by Becky Cameron, and a collection of Blyton stories chosen and introduced by contemporary writers.

Katie Price, licensing director at HCG, said the company is in discussions about a Malory Towers TV series, and is also talking to a theatre company about the possibility of staging a Famous Five musical.