Posted by Jock on October 22, 2006 at 19:41:15 from 87.105.81.146 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Beckfoot refrigeration system (was posted by PeterH on October 22, 2006 at 12:43:21:
what about Arthur Ransome, and his books? Are they
as popular as they once were? If so, why?
They are well crafted adventure tales, which are
enjoyable for adults as well as children. They are
classic in the sense that each new generation
finds something in the stories of relevance to
them and yet they convey in great detail much of
the social, economic and geographical landscape
of the early 1930's.
Is that necessarily a good thing?
Yes.
Would you encourage your children/grandchildren
to read them?
Yes.
What would you say to a children's librarian who
refuses to have them available on the grounds that
they are not 'relevant' today?
Grr! Where are these librarians? Let me get at them!
Were the Swallows a 'healthy normal' family?
Yes.
Why was Nancy such a character?
She does the deus ex machina job. (See Greek drama.)
Had she ever known her father?
Difficult one that. No direct references, but like
John she seems to be trying hard to match (or even
beat) some external standard. This would be consistent
with her having known her father in her early life.
What sort of impression of the English do AR's
books create overseas?
An accurate answer would require some serious
academic research.
Phew, now we have got that little lot out of the way,
let's get back to poking around in Beckfoot's cellar.