Re: Is AR a 'childrens writer'?


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Posted by John Wilson on October 14, 2004 at 11:52:54 from 202.154.157.203 user hugo.

In Reply to: Re: Is AR a 'childrens writer'? posted by Peter Ceresole on October 12, 2004 at 22:32:54:

Examples of adult irony in AR’s books which children may overlook are:

SD (?): Mrs Walker says that their father thinks they are not Duffers but she is not so sure (after the night sailing?); John objects!

And of course Captain Flint follows the good news/bad news policy by first telling Mrs Walker that the Swallows are OK, not that Swallow has been sunk (as John would have done)!

WH: When the Doctor says not to kiss them because of Nancy’s mumps, Mrs Blackett shocks Peggy by saying that she would not want to, the horrid little wretches (then makes a face at Peggy?).

AR was writing for children, though for a number of years the books came out before Christmas (November, going by the dates of the reviews) for the Christmas market, ie for adults buying books as presents for children. And children ie both boys & girls; I think Hugh Brogan comments that the Swallows became two boys and two girls rather than three girls and one boy like the Altounyans because (partly for marketing and income reasons) he wanted the books to have general appeal.



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