Posted by Andrew Craig-Bennett on March 20, 2006 at 22:28:03 from 213.38.124.194 user ACB.
In Reply to: Re: A favourite chapter? posted by Fred Boynton on March 19, 2006 at 18:07:07:
I've thought for a long time that there is space for a "serious essay" on "The Absent Father In The Novels of Arthur Ransome".
I agree that Professor Callum may be somewhat akin to Professor Ransome. Ransome's relationship with his own father was evidently unsatisfactory, and he seems to be happiest when fathers are not around. Mothers are all right, but not fathers.
The Blacketts have not got one at all, Commander Walker is in Hong Kong for much of the series and Professor Callum is likewise on a dig in the Middle East for much of the time. Doctor Dudgeon cannot avoid being at home, but is busy with "victims" and in CC Tom is away from him for most of the book.
As has been pointed out before, when Commander Walker does turn up, he is such a perfect father that all tension goes out of the story, so he has to be got rid of, asap. Indeed, with the Walkers settled at Shotley, Ransome seems to have given up the attempt to write another story with them as the protagonists. They are in serious danger of Living Happily Ever After!