One of the first things I bought when I finally got a job many years ago was the complete 12-book set of Arthur Ransom's wonderful, heartwarming books in which children were really children and political correctness and health and safety paranoia hadn't yet muted their inquisitive and bold sense of adventure. I immediately read them all at once, one after the other. I'd already seen the 1974 film of Swallows & Amazons, which continues to intensify my pure joy and appreciation of a bygone time and the magnificence of the Lake District each time I watch it.

The Making of Swallows & Amazons is a marvel and a brightly shining gem of a book that once again allowed me to experience and treasure the happy childhood I missed out on vicariously through the eyes of the Walkers and the Blacketts. And Sophie Neville in particular. Titty was always my favourite Swallows & Amazons character, making this book all the more enjoyable and precious. Apart from bringing back fond memories, Sophie takes us through the arduous, complicated and sometimes hazardous and uncomfortable process of making a film on location back in the early 1970s. Sophie's pleasant and engaging writing style, interspersed with diary entries written during filming, consistently maintained my interest and is certainly an eye-opener for anyone who sees a career in films and television solely as a glamorous and exciting way to make a living.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who relishes an occasional nostalgic trip back in time to a magical place such as the Lake District, along with possessing a keen curiosity about film making, particularly back in the day. ( )