Milly-Molly-Mandy is a set of six children's books written and illustrated by English writer Joyce Lankester Brisley published over the period 1928 to 1967.
Her adventures are the everyday events of village life: running errands, going to school, making presents, fishing, picnicking, and so on.
She lives in "the nice white cottage with the thatched roof" on the edge of a small village.
Her friends are Billy Blunt, a slightly older boy whose parents run a corn shop and Little-Friend-Susan, who lives in the cottage down the road.
Occasionally, the stories include other friends such as Miss Muggin's niece Jilly; Bunchy, a slightly younger girl who first appears in the story 'Milly-Molly-Mandy gets a New Dress', and Jessamine, a wealthy girl whose family often holidays at The House with the Iron Railings.
When they take a trip to the seaside by train, another illustration has white cliffs which would suggest Kent or Sussex, and is visually rather akin to Eastbourne.
Milly-Molly-Mandy's village (possibly based on picturesque Alfriston or similar in East Sussex) does not have a railway station but she goes to a nearby town via pony and trap to take the train, these could be akin to Polegate, Berwick or Glynde which are close to Alfriston (if the author did base the stories on her own nearby area).
They are set in the late 1920s, given the state of inventions; cars are just spreading into general use but there are no telephones, household electricity or aeroplanes as a rule.
She lives with her Aunty, Miss Muggins, who owns a shop that sells sweets, material and other useful things that everybody in the village needs.
In fact, teacher turns out to be completely a different person away from school; Billy Blunt and Little Friend Susan wish that she had come to their houses.
These were billed as in a "dainty, accessible format"[26] featuring Clara Vulliamy cover art with Brisley interior illustrations: MacMillan Children's Books publishes the four above titles along with additional seasonal titles all featuring the Brisley illustrations.
Her full name is Violet Rosemary May, and she is called "Bunchy for short" by Granny who makes her dresses from floral fabric.
[3] Joyce Brisley wrote two books featuring Bunchy, who lives alone with her Granny on the outskirts of the village.
The little girl uses her imagination to enjoy adventures such as engaging with characters from a card game, a little snow-globe man and a wooden sailor-doll.
[40][41][42] Joyce Lankester Brisley illustrated her stories with pen and ink line drawings which continue to be featured in current editions.
[49] In 2000, Clara Vulliamy illustrations were featured throughout the 75th anniversary edition, The Big Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook, released by Kingfisher-Macmillian.
[54] Other reviewers have noted, "The simple rhythm of the writing and Milly-Molly-Mandy’s village goings-on makes me nostalgic for a life I was never a part of.
She also described Milly-Molly-Mandy's character as "kind, strong, adventurous and brave" justifying her positive generational appeal.