Mary Mouse is a fictional character "imagined" by Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton

Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...

, a prolific British

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 children's author, in the mid 20th century. Mary Mouse is a mouse exiled from her mousehole who becomes a maid at the dolls' house, employed by Sailor Doll.

The original publications were in an unusual format (15cm x 7cm softback pictorial). Due to the austerity and paper shortages of the times, during and after World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the first editions were cheaply made with simple colour illustration and stapled bindings overstuck with linen edging.

Loved mainly by girls, this character's memory has lived on. The original books (published by Brockhampton Book Co Ltd

Brockhampton Press

Brockhampton Press was a British publishing company, based in Leicester. Originally specialising in children's books, from about 1940, it published well known series, including Asterix, many of Enid Blyton's story collections and Scottish author Nigel Tranter's children's books.It is now an imprint...

, Leicester, UK at a price of one shilling

Shilling

The shilling is a unit of currency used in some current and former British Commonwealth countries. The word shilling comes from scilling, an accounting term that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times where it was deemed to be the value of a cow in Kent or a sheep elsewhere. The word is thought to derive...

) are highly collectable, perhaps because few remain in reasonable condition. The books were immensely popular in Blyton's days and eventually sold in a million copies.

Titles in the series, with year of publication and (illustrator)

• 1942 Mary Mouse and the Dolls' House (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1943 More Adventures of Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1944 Little Mary Mouse Again (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1945 Hello, Little Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1946 Mary Mouse and Her Family (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1947 Here Comes Mary Mouse Again (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1948 How Do You Do, Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1950 We Do Love Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1950 Welcome, Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1951 Hurrah for Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1951 A Prize for Mary Mouse (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1952 Mary Mouse and Her Bicycle (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1952 Mary Mouse and the Noah's Ark (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1954 Mary Mouse to the Rescue (Olive F Openshaw)
• 1955 Mary Mouse in Nursery Rhyme Land(Olive F Openshaw)
• 1956 A Day with Mary Mouse (Frederick White)
• 1957 Mary Mouse and the Garden Party (Frederick White)
• 1958 Mary Mouse Goes to the Fair (Frederick White)
• 1959 Mary Mouse Has a Wonderful Idea (Frederick White)
• 1960 Mary Mouse Goes to Sea (Frederick White)
• 1961 Mary Mouse Goes Out for the Day (Frederick White)
• 1962 Fun with Mary Mouse (R Paul-Hoye)
• 1964 Mary Mouse and the Little Donkey (R Paul-Hoye)