Posted by Owen Roberts on February 29, 2008 at 22:02:46 from 91.125.118.28 user OwenRoberts.
In Reply to: Why I Like Certain Books And Not Others! posted by Mike Dennis on February 29, 2008 at 17:54:22:
Re SW It occurs to me that the central characters are all based on children he knew, all the 'bit' parts are pure invention and it shows.
I think the Eels, missionaries and the Lapwing were based on the Busk family to whom the book is dedicated.
Colonel Busk sailed in a yacht called Lapwing and had 3 children, a elder girl and 2 boys who sailed and camped in the real SW area. AR was involved in their activities.
I don't know if there was a prototype Mastadon, but I suspect there may have been.
I think AR based all his books on real people, places and events; very skilfully re-jigged to make very readable stories.