Posted by John Lambert on August 31, 2006 at 20:56:37 from 24.80.117.76 user John.
In Reply to: Re: Beccles or Potter posted by Pam Adams on August 30, 2006 at 23:43:34:
"I am now reading Railway Children, and Susan is Bobbi-ish, or Bobbi Susan-ish. Certainly, they would like each other, work well together, and keep the assorted explorers, pirates, and railway fans in good order."
Pam,
I think the implication is that AR may have copied Susan from Bobbie, but isn't it also likely that wherever you write about a group of children (young people) you need someone like Susan or Bobbie to look after them - proper meals, bedtimes, etc? My point is that AR naturally turned to Susan to keep things running smoothly, just as the Susans and Bobbies in the real world usually do. A boy wouldn't serve here; it has to be a girl because girls have a better-developed sense of responsibility. What do you think?
John