Re: Is AR a 'childrens writer'?


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Posted by Peter H on October 12, 2004 at 21:49:10 from 213.122.183.220 user Peter_H.

In Reply to: Re: Is AR a 'childrens writer'? posted by Peter Ceresole on October 12, 2004 at 13:02:44:

AR never seemed in any doubt as to which market he was aiming at.

Well yes, of course, but I am still convinced that when writing the books, AR was conscious that adults would be reading them, even if they were simply reading them to their children. There are so many little touches of adult emotion (usually humour) throughout the books. These are kept very quiet, so that they don't get in the way, and AR's publishers didn't interfere with this. A typical example is in Chapter 1 of PP when Titty asks Why did you call the pigeon Sophocles? Mrs Blackett replies You may well wonder. Adult readers can almost hear Mrs Blackett's resigned, but good-natured, sigh - a long-suffering mother. Children may sort of recognise the emotion but can't share it - adults can. In fact, throughout the stories, for me there is often a slight tongue-in-cheek feel - you can almost hear AR chuckling. That is why adults can read Ransome without too much of a mental gear-change.


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