Posted by Catherine on August 16, 2024 at 20:41:13 user clamont.
In Reply to: Introducing myself... posted by Neil on August 16, 2024 at 15:04:53:
Hi Neil
Welcome
It's nice to see a new discussion started.
I live 60 miles north of the sheep station that AR's grandfather, Edward Baker Boulton, owned from 1855 until he died in 1895, which presumably explains why there are so many references to Australia and an Australian childhood given to the Swallows' mother.
Although I believe I read WDMTGTS, ML and GN when I was about 10 (in the 1970s), I didn't actually read the earlier books until 2017, when my 11-year-old's anxiety about an upcoming sailing camp triggered a memory "Now, what were those books about kids sailing called?" And amazingly, there was a copy of Swallows and Amazons (and a couple of others) in the library. I read them to him, which was a magical experience - almost like experiencing them as an adult and a child at the same time as I saw his responses.
I've written a couple of articles for The Arthur Ransome Society's journal, "Mixed Moss", and I am currently writing a paper for a conference in NZ on AR's relationship with islands, particularly Wild Cat/Peel Island. I think it will focus on the first three novels you're currently reading, and I haven't got very far with my re-read yet.
I'm not sure if you were quoting from PD, SD, Christina Hardyment's "Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint's Trunk" or something else. CFT includes the original two opening chapters of PD set in a wherry where the children are discussing the story they are writing with Uncle Jim.
I hope you've enjoyed your trip away and we'll hear more from you soon.
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