Posted by Dave Thewlis on November 01, 2007 at 22:13:04 from 75.111.50.119 user dthewlis.
In Reply to: Re: Recent New Book posted by Elizabeth on November 01, 2007 at 04:46:05:
I purchased a copy directly from the U.K. (not being bright enough to shop around the way Elizabeth did).
It is nicely put together, and about 9"x9" and perhaps 5/8" thick, so it really isn't massive enough to be a "Coffee Table" book as I understand them. The photographs are well done although the majority seem to have been taken in the autumn and winter (and the author clearly prefers that time of year).
It reminds me somewhat of "Arthur Ransome and the World of Swallows and Amazons" by Roger Wardale, and indeed of Roger's previous books on the subject, as Mr. Sparks is also addressing the linkages between the real (and fictional) landscape (lakescape?) and possible locations of Ransome sites.
The odd thing (to me) was that I haven't found any actual mention of TARS or The Arthur Ransome Society, although the AR website is cited in the Appendix as is Christina Hardyment's "Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint's Trunk". And on the first page of the Introduction is a photo of a TARS burgee at a masthead, captioned "A Swallows and Amazons flag at Bank Ground".
Not that there would have to be a mention of TARS, but sometimes it almost reads as though the author is trying to avoid actually mentioning TARS. I'm told he is a member, though, so that seems unlikely.
On the whole a nice book, although I'd prefer more seasonal variety in the photos.