Posted by Edwin M. Kiser on May 04, 1999 at 22:31:17 from proxy7.ykt.prodigy.net:
It may be all very lovely to try to get a better understanding of
English ways by reading Ransome, and it is fascinating even to read
his attempts at writing his imitations of the several dialects he uses
for certain of his colorful characters, but whatever that view of
England his words give, that view must be far different from the
actuality one would see if truly visiting those locations and hearing
the people. To try to get an understanding of English culture just
from reading Ransome is too limited a source. Besides, what he wrote
was of the conditions in the '30's, which are hardly the same today.
It would be like an Englishman reading the works of Mark Twain, and
having read "Tom Sawyer", feels he knows what it would be like to live
in the US. The impression "Tom Sawyer" leaves of this country is so
untrue when this country is viewed in its present day actuality.
Although I would dearly love to get to spend some time in the Norfolk
Broads and in the Lake Country of England, I fear that what I would
see there would be a modern, today type of place, so far removed from
the image that reading Ransome has put so firmly in my mind. I feel I
know what to expect, and am afraid I would be disappointed or even
just amazed at how different the reality of today has become.
Consider the need of Pigeons for communications. Beckfoot had a
telephone. It apparently was a most unusual thing to have in a home,
which probably just points out that the Blacketts were above the
average in economic standing. Mrs.˙Tyson was so concerned about fires
because she had no way of letting the fire fighters know, as she had
no telephone. Apparently no one in the area had one, with the nearest
being in Beckfoot. It is highly likely today that no home in that
area is without a telephone. It just is an example of the changing
times. What Ransome wrote about was of a time almost 80 years ago; it
is all so different today.
Ransome wrote of the problems his characters had with the Hullabaloos,
who were the typical tourists with their motor cruiser. There were
mention of a few other motorized vessels, but it did not seem to be
all that many. I can only imagine what it would be like today, to try
to repeat the voyage of the Teasel, without being run down by a
constant parade of landlubbers in their motor cruisers on holiday.
The number of rental boats during the in season on the waters of the
Norfolk Broads must be making for rather crowded conditions, which in
turn make such sailing ventures rather hazardous. I can only guess at
this, but somehow I am sure that the Broads of today are not all that
calm and peaceful as shown in Coot Club. Perhaps someone with more
first hand knowledge of the boating conditions there can expand on
this from fact and correct my own unknowing imagination on the
subject.
The problem with all this is, when and if I ever get to go to the Lake
District, or to the Norfork Broads, it would be in search of the
places and situations that I have come to know as described in
Ransome, but I greatly fear that what Ransome spoke of is no longer
possible. That was of another time; this is today. Can I still find
enough of his world to identify it, and make it a part of my own
reality, without being totally grossed out over the poliferation of
the modern day Hullabaloos - without my becoming a Hullabaloo myself?
Perhaps it would be better to let the modern ways alone, and just
stretch out in my easy chair, and return once more to that peaceful
time of Ransome's world, and once more go "messing about in boats" in
my mind by revisiting those dear playmates of my childhood by turning
yet again those well worn pages.
Edwin M. Kiser, American, in South Florida in the USA
(believe it or not...)