Posted by Peter Ceresole on June 29, 2016 at 14:31:29 user PeterC.
In Reply to: Re: Lydd international posted by Robert Hill on June 29, 2016 at 12:31:57:
A long description of a homeward journey is in danger of seeming an anticlimax after the main events.
AR knew how to structure his stories, and as you say, a long tail can so easily be an anticlimax.
On the other hand, doesn't SA have a longish "after the storm" sequence, when the mothers come to Wild Cat Island? A relaxing wrap-up?
And of course, WD has a rather splendid homeward journey with Daddy at the helm with a friendly and protective glowing Dutch cigar? These are skilful post-action gentle let-downs.
And, in BS, there's the whole Roaring Donkey sequence with one of AR's best gems of philosophy: "Poor lads, so young and nothing left to live for." I remember not really understanding that when I first read it, but it's been one of the most memorable phrases from the books as I've seen it happen since. Mostly to other people, thank god.
By and large, thinking about it, AR did rather well with the tail ends.
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