Posted by Rebecca on January 11, 1999 at 07:23:35:
In Reply to: The Blackett's father? posted by Phil Kellingley on January 10, 1999 at 13:46:30:
I'm curious about Bob Blackett too. I asked who he might be based on late last year and no one answered, you meanies. (Where were you in my hour of need?) But I've done my own research (so there) and I think he's based on Earnest Altounyan. Bob Blackett had to be a suitable partner for the wonderful Mrs Blackett and he had to be supportive of, if not highly influential on, his two harum-scarums.And I think he doesn't appear because AR had to kill him off cause Captain Flint needed to be the dominant male adult (I've been reading A LOT about AR). Notice that Ted Walker is kept mostly out of the way, but it was OK to have two mothers who were friends. If my cunning theory is right then it also presages the falling out AR and Earnest Altounyan had later. I've never forgotten the scene on top of Kanchenjunga. Most authors wouldn't account for a missing parent in such an honest way.