Posted by Rob Boden on May 16, 2011 at 05:20:58 user humyar.
In Reply to: Re: Book Dedications posted by Duncan on May 16, 2011 at 03:20:50:
Duncan -
I initiated a discussion on this on the TARS Forum in December 2008. Actually, it was going to be my 'Black Spot' at the TARS IAGM in two weeks (a discussion on errors in the books). I might still use it!
I too am confused as to who the six were. Four of them must have been the four oldest Altounyans who formed the basis of the Swallows who actively took part in SA, though even that is a bit mean to Bridget/Vicky who does also appear in the book, as does Dora as mother. So one of the seven Altounyans was excluded! Bridget and Dora at least appeared in the book, whereas Father was only a telegram sender. But would AR have left out his friend Ernest?
The dedication mentions the pair of slippers that the Altounyans gave AR. Do we know which Altounyans visited AR that day? Especially, did Bridget go?
Or maybe it was kept brief and really meant just the six Swallows and Amazons without any complicated explanation.
The dedication disappeared in 1970 apparently at Evgenia's request, replaced by the story of how it came to be written, which AR wrote in 1958.
Rob