Posted by Tim Johns on December 14, 1998 at 13:37:55:
Many surfing moons ago, when the world was young and Tarboard still only a splinter, I mentioned a short pastiche of Ransome in the New Statesman that imagined what might have happened if the Walkers and Blacketts had taken seriously the motto 'Swallows and Amazons Forever' and had found themselves sailing on into increasingly arthritic middle age. At the time some fellow surfers who shared my interest in satire said they would like to see the pastiche if ever I managed to track it down. Well, it has now turned up, and may be read here (but be warned it is NOT for anyone who is likely to be offended by seeing our favourite childrens' author lampooned).
The pastiche gives an opportunity for a small Literary Pages Competition that may enliven the Christmas break once the Turkey and mince pies have been disposed of.