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We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Swallows And Amazons)
 
 
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We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Swallows And Amazons) [Paperback]

Arthur Ransome
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
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Frequently Bought Together

We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Swallows And Amazons) + Secret Water (Swallows And Amazons) + Pigeon Post (Swallows And Amazons)
Price For All Three: £18.72

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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Red Fox; New edition edition (6 Sep 2001)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0099427222
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099427223
  • Product Dimensions: 13 x 3.2 x 19.7 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 24,770 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Arthur Ransom
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Product Description

Review

“He makes a tale of adventure a handbook to adventure.” –"Observer"
“There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating.” –"TLS"

Book Description

A timeless classic, beautifully rejacketed. One of twelve Arthur Ransome titles reissued this month

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I love this book most out of the whole series. The four Swallows spend a few days with an adult friend on board a real sea-going ship. However, while the owner is ashore the ship drifts out to sea in the fog. There is the same loving attention to detail as usual, but this is the first book in which the children face real danger. From the moment the Swallows realise they have drifted out to sea, it's non-stop action until the end.
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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful
A sailing classic 17 April 2002
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
This is my favourite S & A book. The Walkers (no Amazons) are on board a yacht but aren't allowed to sail past the 'Beach End Buoy'. Set in the River Stour in East Anglia, events transpire which see the four children accidentally cross the North Sea in a gale. It is an exciting book which has the most 'sailing' content of all the S & A books.
It is inspirational in that the children triumph over the adversity of crossing to Holland in a small boat in shocking weather.
I have read this book countless times since receiving it as a child. It inspired me to sail and I could practically sail a boat for the first time, aged 12 years, having read this book.
Drag your children away from mind numbing computer games and role models who only want to look good - thrust this in their mitts and hopefully their imaginations will be inspired. If not, read it yourself and you never know, the magic of sailing will become a part of your live.
Jib-booms and bobstays, that was profound !
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
No plain sailing but a great read nevertheless! Arthur Ransome's seventh "Swallows and Amazons" adventure is set not long after the action of "Pigeon Post". The action occurs, this time, in the south of England, rather than in the Lake District, and with just the Swallows alone. They are passing the time on the Rivers Orwell and Stour, while waiting to meet up with their father - due, at any time, on leave from his overseas posting with the Royal Navy.

What starts out as a few days quiet sailing, though, quickly turns into something rather more frightening, with the children suddenly drawn into a terrifying and completely unexpected adventure, when they find themselves and their (borrowed) boat being swept out to sea by a fierce tide. For once, the Swallows face a very real and serious danger that is to test their combined courage, fortitude and seamanship to the utmost. It is fascinating (for grown-up readers, at least) to see each of the children's highly individual (and completely characteristic) reactions to their predicament. Younger readers, of course, are more likely just to be carried away by the pure nail-biting suspense of it all!

While this is a gripping and enthralling tale throughout, the tensions (arising from the danger and the worries of the older children) are lightened for the reader by the pure infectious glee of the younger pair. They, of course, are less aware of the seriousness of their predicament - especially Roger, who, as usual, is perfectly content so long as there is plenty of food around - and rather enjoy themselves!

As in all of the "Swallows and Amazons" books, Ransome's story-telling abilities are second to none, here. The narrative is at all times feasible and this book is a completely absorbing read for young and old alike. This is an inspired and an inspiring tale. Readers who have worked their way through the earlier volumes will also not be disappointed when they finally do get to meet Daddy in this volume!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
not to be missed
In the previous books of the series the The children sail a small boat in the safe waters of the Norfolk Broads or Lake District. Read more
Published 4 months ago by brianthegent
A tiny bit of dated sexism lets down an otherwise awesome adventure
The only one of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons novels to feature solely the Swallows, 'We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea' sees the four siblings do just that, as bad weather... Read more
Published 4 months ago by J. R. Johnson-Rollings
ransome review
I intend to work my way through swallows & amazons stories until the end or I tire. I have chosen the same cover for each book & have not been disappointed with any of the... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mp Coupland
One of the best books ever written...
I have read the Swallows and Amazons books many times since the age of 7, and I still love them today. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. Christopher N. Parker
The best of the lot...
I am a grown man of fifty something and have been reading this book for many,many years and I do think that this is by far the best book in the Swallows and Amazons series. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. S. Berwick
Thrilling Classic
The central classic of Arthur Ransome's middle three Swallows and Amazons children's novels (the others being Pigeon Post and Secret Water), and one of the most thrilling and... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Michael O'Brien
High seas adventure
This is probably the most exciting of all the swallows books. I have read all of them now, and really enjoyed them. This book is total fiction that you can escape into. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Swallow Fan
Exciting sailing adventure
"We didn't mean to go to sea" is, in my opinion, the best of the Arthur Ransome books. If you have read the complete set of his books (12 in all) you will know that the Walker... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sue Hines
An excellent adventure story
I read this book when I was a boy. I have now bought it for my great nephew. It's an excellent adventure story suitable for girls or boys. Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by Mr. P. W. D. Preston
book of the century
We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea
a thriller. i read it so quickly because it was so good!!!!!!!!!!!!
the best book i have ever read
Published on 30 Nov 2008
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