Posted by Robert Dilley on March 25, 2002 at 16:46:48 from 216.211.68.96:
In Reply to: Colonialism in S&As posted by Pippa on March 24, 2002 at 22:02:51:
As a geographer who migrated into the discipline from English literature (and one who lectures on "literary landscapes" -- especially AR, of course) I am interested in Pippa's project. I agree with Andrew that the stories have to be seen in context of their times -- there was a thread some time ago about AR's use of language -- notably the dreaded "N word" -- that would be consudered unacceptably racist today but which had no evil connotations on the UK of the time. It is also important to bear in mind that few authors would wish to be identified with the views of their characters. In AR's case we always see the world through the children's eyes, so any underlying assumptions about the world are theirs and not necessarily AR's. For instance, in ML there is a clear background belief in the power and might of the British Navy: among the Chinese pirates as well as the Swallows and Amazons. That doesn't necessarily mean that AR thought the Navy was all-powerful; just that his characters did.