Posted by Robert Hill on January 11, 1999 at 15:30:53:
In Reply to: Re: The Blackett's father? posted by Rebecca on January 11, 1999 at 07:23:35:
Probably the "mainstream" theory about Bob Blackett is that he died in,
or as a result of, the First World War. That is certainly what I
assumed when I first read Swallowdale - maybe even when I first read S&A.
As far as I can see he is not yet discussed in the FAQ.
Why do we have to assume that he was "based on" anyone at all?
If a fictional character is described in great and convincing detail,
readers will tend to assume (often correctly) that he or she is based
on a real person known to the author, because it is difficult to invent
a complete and plausible personality out of thin air. But the books
reveal almost nothing about Bob Blackett, so it seems to me that the
question does not arise.