Costumes of English Literary Characters: Billy Bunter (1908-40)


Figure 1.--This Billy Bunter book by Frank Richards, "Bunter the Sportsman" was published in 19??. Note the school cap, blazer, and checked pants. I'm not sure who did the illustrations.

One of the most famous British public (private) school boy was Billy Bunter. The series of books was written by Frank Richards and first appeared in 1908. Actually, Frank Richards was not his real name, it was actually Charles Harold St John Hamilton. To further complicate matters, not all the Billy Bunter stories were written by Frank Richards. Someties substitute writers were used for the many Bunter stories. Even so, they were all pyblished under the mame of Frank Richards. He was one of the most memorable characters of a large outpouring of English school literature during the late 19th and early 20t centuries. Richards first conceived Bunter in 1898, but it was not until 1908 that the first story about Billy Bunyer and Greyfriars School first appeared. Bunter was reserected by the The Magnet. This was a new periodical publication for boys founded by the Amalgamated Press in 1908. It proved to be very popular and was published until 1940, a victim of World War II. In the years before television and radio, these publications were very popular among both boys and girls. Frank Richards began writing for The Magnent in 1908. Actually Bunter was only a minor character in the first story, but this was to change. Frank Richards was the principal writer for The Magnent, but not the only one. The first issue of The Magnet ("The Making of Harry Wharton") was published on February 15, 1908. The last issue ("The Shadow of the Sack") was published May 18, 1940. There were 1, 683 issues in all. Frank Richards wrote around 1,380 of them. Some of Frank Richard's stories we lost when The Magnent closed down. Billy Bunter, however, did not die with The Magnent. It became a top-rated TV series in the 1950s. In fact, it was so popular that it was braodcast twice in the same day. It was shown at 5.25pm so the children could see it before their bed time and 2 hours later so that farher could watch it after dinner. The stories were set at Greyfriars School, a minor public (private secndary) school. There were many great characters in the Billy Bunter stories. There long-suffering teacher was Mr. Quelch. The boys included Harry Wharton, Bob Cherry, Inky, Ram Singh, Frank Nugent, Mauly, and the bully Coker. The thing understand about Bunter was that he was seriously over weight and he especially loved jam tarts.

Frank Richards

One of the most famous British public (private) school boy was Billy Bunter. The series of books was written by Frank Richards and first appeared in 1908. Actually, Frank Richards was not his real name, it was actually Charles Harold St John Hamilton. To further complicate matters, not all the Billy Bunter stories were written by Frank Richards. Someties substitute writers were used for the many Bunter stories. Even so, they were all pyblished under the mame of Frank Richards.

Illustrator


School Literature

Billy Bunter was one of the most memorable characters of a large outpouring of English school literature during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most popular setting was school, but interestingly they were almost always the exclusive public (private) schools attended by a fraction of English children. The first school story was Thomas Hughes' Tom Brown’s Schooldays (1857), but it was more adult than children's literature. Kipling’s Stalky and Co. (1899) is perhaps the next most famous school story. Sports called games are normally paramount in most school stories. Status in the school novels came from hard earned accolades on the games field. Academic or musical talent stood for very little. In the normal school story, the intelectual was generally a desident. The hero was normally a clever boy who did not apply himself. There was a finally developed code of behavior expected from the boys. Honesty was expected above all else. It was absolutely not allowed for a boy to tell on another school mate, no matter how vile his behavior. There were several series of school books, including Billy Bunter, Biggles, and Jennings.

Boys' Papers

In the years before television and radio, these publications were very popular among both boys and girls. Periodicals are a bit different in that they often mix fiction and non-fictional material. There were also many popular annuals and monthly publications with stories by lesser know authors. These annuals seem a particularly English genre. I do not remember comparable American annuals, at least in the 1950s, perhaps such publications were popular ealier. There were monthlys and annuals and omnibus publications which might combine stories, comics, and activity suggestions. Perhaps the most well known was Boys' Own Paper which at first was a weekly publication. This periodical was published for years beginning in 1879. A 1881 issue had articles about famous men (Darwin, Edison, Lubbock, and Whymger) and an article on "Strange weapons and starnge ways of using them". (We are not sure who Lubbock and Whymger were.) I assume that there was a similar girls publication. We notice publications dealing with sports and Scouts. There were also annuals devoted to popular characters like Just William. We also noted different popular themes. Hopefully our British readers will provide us some deatails on the publications that they remember as boys.

The Magnent

Richards first conceived Bunter in 1898, but it was not until 1908 that the first story about Billy Bunyer and Greyfriars School first appeared. Bunter was reserected by the The Magnet. This was a new periodical publication for boys founded by the Amalgamated Press in 1908. The first issue of The Magnet ("The Making of Harry Wharton") was published on February 15, 1908. The last issue ("The Shadow of the Sack") was published May 18, 1940. There were 1,683 issues in all. Frank Richards wrote around 1,380 of them. Billy Bunter, however, did not die with The Magnent.

World War II

Billy Bunter It proved to be very popular and was published until 1940, a victim of World War II. Frank Richards began writing for The Magnent in 1908. There was a severe paper shortage during World War II. Britain imported much of its paper, primarily from America and Canbada. The U-boat camapign in the North Atlantic threatened the sea lanes bringing weapons, araments, food, oil, and other vitally needed materials. A a result, papersimports were curtailed. Some of Frank Richard's stories we lost when The Magnent closed down.

Billy Bunter

Actually Bunter was only a minor character in the first story, but this was to change. Frank Richards was the principal writer for The Magnent, but not the only one. The stories were set at Greyfriars School, a minor public (private secndary) school. There were many great characters in the Billy Bunter stories. There long-suffering teacher was Mr. Quelch. The boys included Harry Wharton, Bob Cherry, Inky, Ram Singh, Frank Nugent, Mauly, and the bully Coker. The thing understand about Bunter was that he was seriously over weight and he especially loved jam tarts.

TV Series

It became a top-rated TV series in the 1950s. In fact, it was so popular that it was braodcast twice in the same day. It was shown at 5.25pm so the children could see it before their bed time and 2 hours later so that farher could watch it after dinner.

Sources

Hiam, Tony. "Greyfriars, The Magnet & Billy Bunter - Facts, Figures & Fun".







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Created: March 11, 2003
Last updated: March 12, 2003