I was turned on to the books by the serialized comics adaptation in
Boy's Life magazine (official magazine of the Boy Scouts?), so that's why I read the trilogy. I just learned because of your shibboleth post tonight there was a prequel, so I probably should read that (and re-read the trilogy since it has been decades for me).
Not a Limey so I missed out on the TV adaptation. Maybe I can dig it up somewhere.
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P.S. when I had to choose a French name for French class I picked "Jean-Paul" because of Beanpole.
P.P.S. I also have "DELIETJP" as a password reminder on my dry-erase calendar for who-knows-what and I forgot the significance of the name until tonight too lol.
ASHTON.S. Really cringe to read as an adult:
The White Mountains comic