‘Ahoy! Ahoy! Swallows! Ahoy!’
This year for the A to Z Blog Challenge, I have been on the lookout for maps in children’s literature. When I shared my theme, a number of bloggers asked if I was going to write about Swallows and Amazons. I answered, “of, course!” But, truth be told, I had never heard of Swallows and Amazons. What a sheltered life I live!
Swallows and Amazons is a twelve book series by Arthur Ransome that tell the stories of a group of children living in the English Lakes District between the two world wars. In the first book (1930), Swallows and Amazons, the Walker children petition their father who is away serving in the navy, to allow them to camp on an island. As in all good series, the children are allowed to do so and off they go in their sailboat named the Swallow. But, their happy times are disrupted by the arrival of pirate sisters, the Amazons, who claim the island.
The series continues with the children having sailing and camping adventures in different regions on school holidays. These books sound like great fun – I plan to start reading the series this summer.
Aren’t these endpapers wonderful?
Author Arthur Ransome drew the maps and illustrations. Here is a link to the actual area he based his stories and maps on and a bit of information on the movie based on the books.
Have you read any of the Swallows and Amazon books?
Hi Claire Annette – we used to holiday and row on Lake Windemere from Ambleside … and go out and picnic on islets … so this always takes me back – my father towed us kids as he rowed around … and I used P for Pemmican – which Ransome has the kids calling their ‘bully beef in cans’ … lots of memories here – and I need to see the film now – thanks for this – delightful read … maps are wonderful things – cheers Hilary
Hello Hilary – thanks for sharing these wonderful memories. I need to see the film but I want to read some of the books first. I agree. Maps are wonderful!
Yes! I read the first few books in the series twice — once to my older children and once to my younger ones. Great memories…perhaps this series is one of the reasons I want a sailboat!
Oh goodness, I’m glad you were “encouraged” to find these. I’d certainly not heard of them either, so I’m happy to break out of my shelter as well. They’ll be going on my reading list.
I may well be replicating those wonderful summer days as a kid when the library let you check out dozens of books at a time during summer vacation. Such abundance, such decadence, such fun. I’m going to be holding you responsible with this curation of delights.
Here’s a link to some info:
http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/dighum/2016/09/13/reading-and-mapping-swallows-and-amazons/
And a big yes! to summer reading.
Claire,
This AtoZ challenge has been so wonderful!
Thank you so much for participating again this year.
Thanks for following along Trine. I know these posts are filling up your e-mail!
I’ve never heard of this book series but the maps are beautiful. Weekends In Maine
Fantastic! I know nothing about this series that sounds wonderful. These maps are enough to send me in search of finding them. This is an amazing thing you have done here. I keep telling you that. I won’t be satisfied until you turn the work you have done here for the #Challenge into a published outcome. I appreciate that you have kept me company touring BOOKSTORES. Wish we could meet at one with a great children’s section and you could lead me by the hand through it.
I’ve never heard of this book series – it looks like the classic children’s adventure books of that time – I was a big fan of Enid Blyton and her adventure books when I was a child – I probably would have loved these.
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
S for Stop Procrastinating
I love the looks of this book because of the nautical maps and pictures. This is one that I’d love to have a look at in person.