| Sophie Smallwood, Enid Blyton's granddaughter. Photograph: Felix Clay |
Granny, Noddy and me
The fictional worlds Enid Blyton created have been adored by millions. Yet life for her own family was far from idyllic as her granddaughter, Sophie Smallwood, explains
Saturday 14 November 2009 00.05 GMT
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ophie Smallwood has spent most of her adult life keeping quiet about the fact that she is related to one of the most famous and successful children's writers of the last century. She seldom mentions her lineage to friends and has never written or spoken about it publicly – until now. "People have certain expectations and close emotional feelings when they read my grandmother's books. If they know who you are, you have to carry a lot of that. I don't want to do that. When you talk about it, you end up having to answer questions, and it's easier not to."