Posted by Andy Morley on March 21, 1999 at 11:19:00:
In Reply to: Re: THE ANSWER IS... posted by Robert Dilley on March 20, 1999 at 22:20:08:
Childrens book or not, hundreds of thousands, millions probably, of English schoolchildren were given it as prescribed reading. Probably why we are all such warped individuals.
I'd say it was a definite satire on Ransome - the theme of no adults is strongly emphasised and there are so many elements from Ransome contained in the book as well as the direct reference to Swallows and Amazons. Perhaps this public schoolmaster is saying: how would REAL children behave in such circumstances. Coral Island is a lovely book. Has anyone read Mr Bletsworthy on Rampole Island by H G Wells..? This is definitely an adult book in which savages follow up their political process by administering 'reproof' to those who don't get it quite right. 'Reproof' consists of the application of a blunt instrument to the head with a manly vigour. If you can stomach Lord of the Flies then you would enjoy this one, and it might have given Golding some of his ideas. Wells at his most imaginitive, which is a long way over the edge of beyond. Bearing in mind the devastating effect that Orson Wells' dramatization of HG's War of the Worlds had on American radio audiences, I'd advise delicate-minded Americans to apply the same darkened-room caution to this one too.