Posted by Guy C. on August 28, 2006 at 10:55:20 from 150.108.101.76 user Astronomer_Guy.
In Reply to: Cmdr Walker's leave times posted by Paul on August 28, 2006 at 09:29:36:
I never noticed that, either. I agree, it plays havoc with the generally accepted timeline.
There is a simple explanation, of course. Perhaps the Swallows were in the south in anticipation of meeting their father on leave, only to be disappointed because that leave had been cancelled... not the only time that would have happened! And this would just add to the poignancy of not wanting to miss him later that year (in WDMTGTS).
About favorite books... oddly, though it is because of Ransome that I have discovered and fallen in love with the Lakes, my favorite book is WDMTGTS, which to me is the culmination, the pay-off, of all the earlier works: this is where what they learned in play on the lakes, saves them for real on the ocean. I recall as a child also ranking GN at the top of my favorites, with PM at the bottom; but as several others here have noted, PM reads much better to an adult who can appreciate the GA character.
Of course, really, my favorite Ransome is whichever one I am reading at the moment!