Posted by Adam Quinan on March 12, 1997 at 20:47:47:
In Reply to: A Ransom a Traitor? posted by Kurt Cylke Jr. on March 12, 1997 at 18:37:35:
Like many idealists, I suspect Ransome found much to admire in the early days of the Russian Revolution.
He didn't see it then with the eyes we see it now. This episode was just after the Red Army had
overcome significant odds in forming the Soviet Union, he was in love with a young Bolshevik and
knew some of the principals well. He was not a conservative and probably embraced many socialist ideals.
As for being a traitor to his class, perhaps, but there were many others with less justification who did
a lot worse, Philby, Burgess, Blunt and Maclean when the nature of the Soviets was far better known. This
probably seemed like a bit of a lark akin to walking through the front lines.
Ransome's smuggling activities pale compared with those of another great sea writer Erskine Childers who went
gun-running for the Irish rebels. Although he too could be classed as a traitor to his King, he served the Crown
loyally during the First World War