Posted by Peter H on August 18, 2007 at 13:02:02 from 86.144.112.11 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Amazons Toffs? posted by Owen Roberts on August 18, 2007 at 10:58:03:
Just as the Amazons fail to appreciate their Victorian great aunt in judging her by 1930's standards, so we fail to appreciate the Blacketts/Turners by our current standards.
Brilliant summing up, Owen. I think you and Mike Dennis have expressed great common sense on this topic and I have learnt from it. I feel that AR was careful, when inventing the Beckfoot household, not to portray ostentatious wealth - he no doubt felt that this would alienate young readers whose families were poor. But he did want his characters to be able to sail and explore on a lake, so he based two of them on the lake, and brought in the other four on their holiday. Beckfoot undoubtedly has an air of genteel decline - the rusted-up stable bell is an excellent symbol of this. As a boy, I was not put off reading Ransome in any way by what has been called on TarBoard (can't recall when but it has been) 'the trappings of wealth' ie Amazon, the Beckfoot launch, the rowing boat, Rattletrap etc, because they all seem rather run-down and not in the least bit flashy. I was envious, of course, of Nancy and Peggy's freedom, but this is one of the appeals of the books - one can dream.
I agree that there is too little evidence to conclude that Capn Flint was a toff, but if he was, I imagine him as being like Bill (Lord) Deedes, who has just died. Deedes was undoubtedly a toff, but also a thoroughly decent man and a working journalist all his life, even into his 90s. James Turner is similarly a lovely character - just enough foibles to keep him human, but fundamentally decent and generous.