Arthur Ransome (1884–1967)

This is an old classic of children's literature.

I grew up with Enid Blyton's books, where a group of young children went on holidays on their own, came across some strange going-ons and had adventures, outwitting some hapless criminal gang. I just loved the sense of freedom of those kids, allowed to organize a holiday on their own, their friendship, the thrill of an adventure without adults. Blyton was already writing in 1930, when this book was published, but she still had not started writing adventure books like the ones I have described. I have no doubt that this book influenced her.

However, despite the similarities the style here is different. Swallows and Amazons is written in more complex language, and it describes a more idyllic childhood holiday. It's really enchanting and timeless.

The story begins with a group of siblings vacationing with their mother, their baby sister and the baby's nurse in a house by a lake. Using a spyglass from a nearby hill, the Walker children watch wistfully a small desert island in the middle of the lake. They have asked their mother for permission to take their boat and camp there on their own, and she has agreed provided their father also gives permission. Shortly afterwards, the father's reply comes by telegram, giving permission in this way: "Better drowned than duffers, if not duffers won't drown."

So the children cheer and start preparing. Twelve-year-old John will be the captain; ten-year-old Susan will be ship's mate; eight-year-old Titty will be able-seaman; and seven-year-old Roger will also be allowed to go as ship's boy, provided he listens to his older siblings. Soon afterwards they are sailing in their small sailboat, the Swallow, towards the island. They establish their camp, and soon afterwards they meet a couple of girls who have their own sailboat, the Amazon. Rivals at first, they start a friendly war. The side that is able to capture the enemy's ship wins, and the winning captain will lead the joint navy in a war against the retired pirate who lives on a houseboat on the lake.

The story is filled with the magic, innocence and the joy of childhood. The children are responsible and self-sufficient in their outdoors adventures, but they live in a world of fantasy and games. They are pirates or explorers, as required, and their fantasy world is more real to them than the world of the adults (whom they call "the natives"). They explore their lake, play, learn and have a great time. Nothing much happens apart from their games, although there is a real burglary, but in their minds they have lived the greatest adventures.

The story is a bit slow to begin with, with some difficult sailing vocabulary, but it soon gets very interesting once the competition between the "swallows" and the "amazons" begins. We watch the children making their plans and being outwitted by the other side, only for the competition being decided by a daring and clever action.

Can be enjoyed by children, if it's not too old-fashioned for them, with the freedom given to children and the absence of smartphones, and by adults, who will remember their childhood with nostalgia.… (altro)

I loved [Amazons and Swallows], the first book in the famous children's series by British author, Arthur Ransome. Chronologically this book is second, although it was published third. In hindsight I wish I had read it in publication order, because we learn in [Swallowdale] that [Peter Duck] is a fictional tale written by one of the characters. That goes a long way to explaining some of the things I did not like about it, thinking that it was meant to be realistic.

The children have gathered in Lowestoft to join Captain Flint (Nancy and Peggy's uncle) on the schooner Wild Cat. They meet a crusty old salt named Peter Duck who volunteers to fill in for the other adult who is delayed and can't join them. Peter tells them a yarn about being shipwrecked as a ship's boy and seeing pirates bury treasure at the foot of a palm tree. Excited by the prospect of real buried treasure, Captain Flint and the Swallows and Amazons crew are off for the Caribbees, trailed by the notorious pirate Black Jake and The Viper. Adventures abound and once more the children must rely on their wits and each other as they sail across the Atlantic.

Although the middle of the book dragged a bit, the action in the last third is nonstop excitement. I look forward to returning to England and the adventures of the Swallows and Amazon in a more realistic setting.… (altro)

The Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are on school holiday in the Lake District and are sailing a borrowed catboat named "Swallow," when they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy), who sail the boat, "Amazon." The children camp together on Wild Cat Island where a plot is hatched against the Blackett's Uncle Jim who is too busy writing his memoirs to be disturbed.

Fireworks--literally--ensue along with a dangerous contest, a run-in with houseboat burglars, and the theft of Uncle Jim's manuscript. How all this is resolved makes for an exciting and very satisfying story.… (altro)