Enid Blyton was a children's writer known both as Enid Blyton and Mary Pollock. One of the most prolific children's writers of all time, Blyton authored more than 600 books for children of all ages.

Born in East Dulwich, London on August 11, 1897, she was the first of Thomas Carey and Theresa Mary Blyton's three children. Despite being a talented pianist, she chose a career in education and trained as a teacher at Ipswich High School, a girls' school near Ipswich in England. After graduation, she taught at several different schools and began writing in her spare time.

Her first book, "Child Whispers," was a collection of poetry published in 1922. Two years later, Blyton married Major Hugh Alexander Pollock, a book editor for the George Newnes publishing firm. Blyton and her husband had two children: Gillian Mary Baverstock, born in 1931, and Imogen Mary Smallwood, born in 1935.

After divorcing Pollock, Blyton married Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters in 1943. Waters was a surgeon to whom she remained married until his death in 1967.

A prolific writer, Blyton is perhaps best known for "The Famous Five series," a collection of stories written from 1942 to 1963 featuring the adventures of a group of children and their beloved dog, Timmy. Other works of note include the "Barney 'R' mysteries" series, "The Secret Seven" series and the "Malory Towers" series.

Despite the popularity of Blyton's books, documents uncovered in the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) archives reveal that she and her works were banned from BBC television and radio shows in 1938 for lacking literary value. It wasn't until 1963 that Blyton made her first BBC appearance on the "Woman's Hour." In November 2009, Blyton's life was portrayed in the BBC drama "Enid" starring Helena Bonham Carter.

Blyton died on November 28, 1968 at the age of 71.

Other great British children's novelists include Roald Dahl. If you'd like children's reading recommendations, please visit books.