Posted by Magnus Smith on November 28, 2014 at 23:00:23 user Magnus.
In Reply to: Re: Things We Don't Like! posted by Dave Thewlis on November 26, 2014 at 07:09:11:
Are we still talking about The Box of Delights ?
I read it once, and thought it was OK. My friend was surprised that I hadn't found it boring, and mentioned a particular scene....which I had no recollection of. Turns out I had read an abridged version without realising.
I really HATE abridged books. And they are a crime when they don't make it clear in massive letters on the cover. So many hide a tiny note somewhere on the back or inside. Ooh, it makes me mad.
No-one has yet mentioned the Ransome connection: The Box of Delights was written by John Masefield who knew AR in his 'Bohemian' period. Masefield was big on sea shanties too. I wonder if that came before or after both men met Pixie Coleman Smith? Online it says Masefield "ran away to sea early in life". I must look all that up...
What I'm interested in, is whether the Ransome-Masefield friendship (or wasn't there one?) lasted beyond that time, into middle age? I know AR (with Rupert Hart-Davis) chose a Masefield book for the 'Mariners Library' series (A Mainsail Haul, number 25, published 1954)...