Posted by Magnus Smith on July 28, 2013 at 13:32:55 user Magnus.
I'm glad Mike Dennis raised the topic of Ransome talking about "writing FOR children". I keep forgetting to air my thoughts on this.
I don't think AR was being entirely truthful when he claims that he never does it. Can anyone else recall letters to Margaret Reynold (I think?) when AR is creating the plot of the Broads books. He mentions his "audience" (or some such word) and talks about needing to serve up certain aspects for them within the plot. I believe he mentions several different points which reveal he is considering his 'market'.
Of course, he can still say he is writing a story for himself, enjoying it as it unfolds....but I think there is evidence he still sees book sales and public consumption as something which can affect the execution.
Does anyone have a good memory of 'Signalling From Mars' (the book of letters) and remember the bit I am going on about? Perhaps it was in another biographical work.