Posted by Peter Ceresole on October 26, 2014 at 12:07:49 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Childish behaviour posted by Jon on October 26, 2014 at 06:09:10:
SW is the first (and only) "non-fiction" of the series where Nancy is essentially free of adult supervision, so she's able to be herself.
Isn't it also the first time that she encounters someone (Daisy) who matches her in exuberance and wildness? I always felt that Nancy was having the time of her life because of that companionship of equals, and one reason that she chooses war over exploration.
It's true that all the restraining influences that act on her in the Lakes- her family and the people in the district all of whom know her well- are absent in SW- but isn't the presence of the Lapwings/Busks a background, stabilising element?
I always felt their presence that way when I first read SW many many years ago. Maybe I was wrong...