Mary Poppins

It's a shame the original character Mary Poppins is almost lost to view amidst the schmaltz of the musical film. P L Travers was barking mad and her literary creation was far more interesting than the Julie Andrews version: unattractive ("thin, with large hands and feet, and small, rather peering blue eyes"), snappy, bossy, illogical, scary. And snores. The children try and placate her, but usually fail. The adventures are great and imaginative and sometimes touch on mysticism. The reason I'm mentioning the books is that the stunning conclusion of "Mary Poppins Opens the Door" just came back to me - she leaves the children by walking through the reflection of Nursery door in the window: but beyond the door "there was nothing but field on field of sky, and the dark spreading night."

By the way, Mary Shepard, who did the memorable illustrations, was E H Shepard's daughter, and Penelope Fitzgerald's stepmother.