Posted by Mike Field on 04/22/00 from 203.87.23.90 via proxy cache.net2000.com.au:
In Reply to: Children's Hour posted by Joy Wotton on April 22, 2000 at 10:45:49:
Joy, has the group discussed any AR books yet? That would clearly have a bearing on the answer to your question.
Assuming it hasn't, I don't think you could do better than look first at the first of the series, Swallows and Amazons. Although this could not be considered "essential" (each of the books introduces the characters portrayed in it, and in that sense can be considered a "stand-alone,") S&A introduces the main protagonists for the first time -- if you later went on to discuss other titles, participants would be already familiar with the characters and, for the other four Lake books, the general locale. (In addition, "flashbacks" in the later books would be readily understood.)
As your to last question, I have no knowledge. But while Noel Streatfeild wrote some successful children's books, they were far removed in style from AR's -- maybe she couldn't understand his books, perhaps? I have trouble in believing that they would be incomprehensible to any English children -- despite the differences in distance (12,000 miles,) culture (Brits vs Aussies,) and time (half a century,) my kids not only loved them but understood them pretty-well perfectly.