Customer Reviews

Swallowdale

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Swallowdale" continues very much where its predecessor, "Swallows and Amazons", leaves off, with the Walker children returning to "that remote lake in the north of England" one year after the events of the first book and looking forward to another couple of weeks of fun, sailing with their friends, the Amazon pirates. Plans quickly begin to go awry, however, and Ransome turns events away from the anticipated activity of sailing on the lake to an altogether different sort of fun, as the children take off camping and exploring in the surrounding fells and mountains.

The book has all of the fine qualities that make its predecessor such an excellent read for children (and adults) of all ages. Ransome's prose is a delight throughout, his characters engaging and the events that befall the children entirely believable. As in all of the other books of this series, simple pen and ink drawings by the author add considerably to the enjoyment. If only the world (and the Lake District!) was still like this!

Incidentally, although this was the second of Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazon" books to be published, it is best read after the third volume, "Peter Duck", because it is set chronologically after the events of that book, and makes occasional back reference to it. You will enjoy "Peter Duck" much more if you read it BEFORE you read "Swallowdale". And if you enjoyed "Swallows and Amazons" you will certainly enjoy this.

Swallowdale has it all for adventurous minded children - sailing, shipwrecks, pirates, camping, exploring, caves, climbing, battles...

The Swallows (Captain John, Mate Susan, Able Seaman Titty and Boy Roger) and Amazons (Captain Nancy and Mate Peggy) meet up again along with Captain Flint and his parrot Polly to explore the mountains and lakes of the English Lake District.

Written by Arthur Ransome over 60 years ago, this is a book for grandparents, parents and children alike - a book to be passed from generation to generation.

Small boat or dinghy sailing, camping out, excitement, nice people and strong writing: what more could a reader ask for? I first read this book at the home of a boyhood friend about ten years after it was originally published, and I count the series (this is the second of 12) as responsible for my lifelong interest in camping and sailing. More than half a century later, I acquired a set and found to my absolute delight that they read as well and are as powerfully satisfying as ever.

Here, within the covers of a very well-written book, you'll find a group of charming children and a few adults, spanning a wide range of ages and character types. Swallowdale is by turns funny, thoughtful, insightful and so well written it is a distinct pleasure for readers of any age.

Did I mention the writing? It's better written than most current novels.

One year after the events of "Swallows and Amazons," the four Walkers return to the Lake to spend the summer holidays, looking forward to more thrilling adventures with the Blackett sisters and their uncle, Captain Flint. To their dismay, they discover that the Blacketts' Great-Aunt--a strait-laced and somewhat tyrannical person who brought their mother and uncle up--is staying at Beckfoot and badly cramping the two pirates' style. And then the Walkers' boat "Swallow" is wrecked on the far side of the lake, forcing them to find a new camp. In dealing with these challenges the six show their mettle once again--and even manage to get away for an overnight climb of Kanchenjunga, as they christen the tallest of the nearby hills. Along the way Roger and Titty get lost when a sea-fog rolls in over the moors, and the outwitting of Great-Aunt Maria furnishes a fair share of suspense. Once again Ransome tells his tale without talking down, seeming to assume a child's viewpoint with an ease matched by few writers. Another excellent family read-aloud that should be owned by every household even if they don't care for boats or camping.

The second and my favourite of the Swallows and Amazons series starts with a mystery. Where are the Amazons? It continues with a near disaster that threatens the Swallow's entire holiday, but a chance discovery saves the situation.
The children explore the hills of the English Lake District, have battles and meet strange but friendly "natives" all while trying to keep the Great Aunt happy.
It is a great story for children and adults which combines Ransome's characters with exciting but realistic adventures and marvellous descriptions of the English countryside and its inhabitants.

My mother, who was twelve years old in 1938, wrote a letter to Mr. Ransome telling him how much she loved his books, and asking if she could "be" Nancy, her favorite character. Mr. Ransome very kindly wrote back and bequeathed that character to her. That thought was very important to her, helping her get through some difficult times in her childhood. And her kids grew up to enjoy the books just as much. If I ever have children (or nieces & nephews) I will certainly share the books with them, too. They are fun and adventurous, and also show kids being "real," and also being independent and responsible, and able to help each other out. I wish the world could still be that way for kids.

The Swallows return to their favorite lake a year later, but things have changed slightly...the Amazons are dealing with a visit from a tyrannical great-aunt and can't go sailing with them! While sailing about on their own, the Swallows' boat experiences a wreck and their sailing adventures on the lake are in danger.

This book continues the adventures of the brave kids we first met in SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS, only they're a year older and a little nervier. The books' descriptions of camping and exploring are fun, fun, fun; I remember doing similar things as a child. The story also gives some good lessons to kids, although not in a preachy fashion...we see the importance of being calm in a crisis, and how an otherwise bad situation can be turned into a positive experience. Also, the boat-race scene at the end has a great scene of good sportsmanship, as the losers enthusiastically and sincerely congratulate the winners and compliment them on their sailing. And, as present in SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS, there is the element of using one's imagination.

The mountain-climbing scenes are good, with an unexpectedly poignant moment at the summit. The lost-in-the-fog scenes are actually quite atmospheric and memorable.

The book's main problem is that it is rather dated, but for some readers, that's part of the charm. The great-aunt's insistance on Victorian-era manners may not click too much with modern readers, although they'll probably be able to think of their elders who they see as being too old-fashioned. The book takes place in a circa 1930 England, when charcoal-burners and horse-drawn wagons were still commonplace in rural areas; some might find the setting too alien, while others may become absorbed into it.

Despite those few flaws, this is still a 5-star book in my view. Great for parents and children, and a great inspiration for outdoor adventures.

Note: This book makes references to an imaginary character, "Peter Duck," who was the subject of a sort of collective fairy tale that the group made up over the winter holiday. That story is told in the next book in the series, PETER DUCK.

My favorite aspect of Arthur Ransome books is that they always take place in a self-contained community of children that is totally devoid of an adult presence. Ransome's characters are not only are skilled sailors (under the capable leadership of Captain Nancy), but they fish, camp and go on a variety of overnight adventures and arrange for their own food, shelter, warmth and the other personal needs without any adult intervention whatsoever. Of course, they also get into a variety of scrapes but also manage to get out of them on their own.

In Swallowdale they go exploring and camp in a secret valley, experience ship wreck and get temporarily lost. The writing is appropriate for a 4th grade reading level and up, though children five and up will enjoy having Swallowdale read to them. Arthur Ransome always leaves me nostalgic for a time when children spent most of their free time in the streets playing stick ball and kick the can, rather than taking piano and soccer lessons.

A great read for outdoor enthusiasts of any age who enjoy sailing, camping and/or fishing.

By Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall, author of THE MOST REVOLUTIONARY ACT: MEMOIR OF AN AMERICAN REFUGEE

What more can be said than knickerbockerbreaker? This was my guide to what camping should be - we even tried it once and called our camp Swallowdale - one can always dream!

This is a sequel to Ransome's children's adventure book "Swallows and Amazons." And Swallowdale is just as good, if not better than the first volume. It is another captivating book full of adventures. This time, the Swallows and the Amazons (two groups of children with sailing ships spending their summer holidays at a lake in England) are forced to spend the first part of their holiday on land. It makes for a nice change of scenery in the story line as they explore inland, discover caves, climb mountains and try to get away from a very stern great aunt. In the end, they are able to return to sailing their beloved ships, at which point their summer vacation can truly begin.

Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series are fabulous books. And Swallowdale is one of the best. It's well written, captivating, inspirational, uplifting, enjoyable and funny. The adventures of the main protagonists take any child on a wonderful journey of experiences most children dream about. Sailing, exploring the unknown, plotting with friends and allies against naughty grown ups, fishing, hiding, playing games...what more would any child want to do spend their summer? This series was written before WWII when children had no TVs and video games so they played outside. These books were always inspirational to me and I'm glad to say that they help inspire the same sense of adventure and appreciation for the outdoors in my children. I highly recommend this book.