The Secret of the Forgotten City, by Carolyn Keene (Grosset & Dunlap, 1947, 208pp HB, $5.99, ages 8-12, #52 of 163 in the series - or possibly 600) Review by Skye Anderson
Women of a certain age grew up with Nancy Drew ('born' in 1930) just as men of a certain age grew up with the earlier Hardy Boys Mysteries (b. 1927).
At first, Nancy had a blue roadster (a car, usually blue), two best girl friends, and a boy friend in college, Ned. The girls wore dresses and Nancy was so very lucky to be in just the right place at just the right time and to always be able to travel the next day to another part of the country to solve a mystery. She was quite the amateur sleuth (solver of mysteries and crimes). So much so that law enforcement officers often would 'break current day rules' and ask for her interference in solving a crime.
Then-day Nancy (aged 16-18) evolved with the times and went on TV, sported a modern haircut and wardrobe, including pants; her books have even been "shortened" from 25 chapters to 20.
Carolyn Keene, the "author," is actually several authors who were paid to write a formula book - but they loved Nancy and could identify with her which is why she became such an iconic figure in literature - more so than the Dana Girls, Trixie Belden or Sue Barton but just a little bit ahead of Cherry Ames (the nurse)(see end of article).
Some of the Nancy Drew books are amazingly technical in parts, parts that Nancy ends up solving. For example, in The Secret of the Forgotten City, Nancy and friends go on an archeological dig out West in Nevada (but generally the place names are generic) with no experience or training but first, Nancy must decipher some carved stones.
The Forgotten City
In The Forgotten City, Nancy and pals search for gold and as a result, Nancy and Ned almost become fatalities. Almost.
Starting with a theft, and going on to 102-degree days and then too much water, plus a scam, this may be Nancy's most scary mystery yet.
A Play on Words
In The Crooked Banister, Nancy's adventures would be grand entertainment around Halloween. From a moat on fire, to a robot technically ahead of his (her?) time, to poisoned portraits, this tale is almost too weird to believe. And the haunted house belongs to Mr. Banister, of course - the normal one, that is, but gone.
Do you Remember. . . ?
Your first Nancy Drew book? I do. I was 8 and it was a Christmas present. From then on, I was hooked, until I grew up that is.
Oh, and about the dog. . . .
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