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Swallows And Amazons [Paperback]

Arthur Ransome (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 5 April 2001 | Series: Swallows And Amazons (Book 1)

The ultimate children's classic - long summer days filled with adventure.

John, Susan, Titty and Roger sail their boat, Swallow, to a deserted island for a summer camping trip. Exploring and playing sailors is an adventure in itself but the island holds more excitement in store. Two fierce Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy, challenge them to war and a summer of battles and alliances ensues.

'My childhood simply would not have been the same without this book. It created a whole world to explore, one that lasted long in the imagination after the final page had been read' - Marcus Sedgwick

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Product details

  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Red Fox; New Ed edition (5 April 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0099503913
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099503910
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.8 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (101 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 70,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Amazon Review

Arthur Ransome was a prolific writer of children's books. Born in Leeds in 1884, it was his father, a nature-loving history professor, who inspired his love of the outdoors and nurtured a passion for fishing. As a child he enjoyed active, outdoor holidays: sailing, camping and exploring the countryside. He used many of these holiday settings for his children's stories, notably the much loved Swallows and Amazons, a book that sits comfortably in the category of "timeless classic" and remains one of his most popular titles for young people.

It is the wholesome story of four young children, John, Susan, Titty and Roger, who set out in their boat (the Swallow of the title) to an island of adventure. All seems well until they encounter their enemy. At first they are angry at the invasion of their peaceful haven by these Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy, who claim ownership of the land. But in time a truce is called and the Swallows and Amazons become firm friends. Camping under open skies, swimming in clear water, fishing, exploring and making discoveries is the stuff of dreams which serves to make this so charming a tale. The author manages to capture the innocence of a time when all this was real and possible. Swallows and Amazons will transport children to a fantastical place where they can play safely and roam freely, without an adult in sight. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Thrilling not only to young readers fond of the sea, but also to older readers who remember how they enjoyed sea stories when they themselves were young" (Scotsman )

"All the thrills of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe" (Daily Telegraph )

"Enchanting and escapist" (Sunday Express )

"There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating" (Times Literary Supplement )

"The very stuff of play" (Guardian )
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
80 of 81 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Swallows and Amazons 6 May 2006
By Philip Knight
Format:Hardcover
Simply one of the finest children's books; in fact make that just one of the finest books. Check out the opening pages and the last paragraph - more perfect prose you will not see. Add to that his genius at creating an almost timeless period with fantastic attention to detail (camping, firelighting, sailing, cooking, childrens' relationships with adults, the list goes on and on) - although as a child I was always perturb as to when and where they went to the loo!

My father introduced them to me when I was young and now at the age of 42 with 3 small chidren I am hoping to do the same for them (am also hoping that my eldest might as a result of reading it might fixate on a sailing dinghy rather than a pony...).

If you are like me and have precious little time, then buy the Gabriel Woolf narated version on CD. Almost brought me to tears with the beauty of the prose and Woolf's faultless interpretation.

But whatever you do buy the book for the children otherwise they will miss out on the fantastic illustrations and the simple joy of creating the world of the Swallows and the Amazons for themselves.
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103 of 105 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Qiute simply the best childrens' book ever! 24 Sep 1999
By A Customer
Format:Hardcover
Yes, I know it's sad, but this book changed my life.

"Swallows & Amazons" is now derided by many for being dated, dull and politically incorrect.

However it proved to this reader that books were A GOOD THING. To a seven year old, the book gathers you in and makes you care about and identify with the characters. This was the first proper book I ever read and understood.

Of course the writing is dated. Of course children can't roam as free as John, Susan, Titty and Roger do any more. Yes, there's no real story as such - but it DOESN'T MATTER.

I challenge anybody with open mind to read the first 50 or so pages of this book and not care about the participants and carry on entranced to the end. And the good news....there's plenty more in the series to read.

Last year, for the first time, I was ecstatic to be able to visit "the" Lake and actually landed on "the" Island. I was 34 years old at the time.

Swallows and Amazons has gripped this reader for nearly 30 years. Even now, every few months or so, I dust down a treasured copy of one of the series and read on.

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58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A cracking story 9 Dec 2005
By Jessi VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
When I was nine years old my dad brought a present home from Jarir Bookstores. I will never forget that evening. It was a muggy, sultry Thursday night, the first day of the Jordanian weekend. My parents were going to a dinner party and they left me behind in the villa - with Arthur Ransome for company.

I felt very doubtful as I ploughed through the first page (how long does it take for a small boy to cross a field?!) but as the seconds ticked by I gradually slipped deeper and deeper into the world of the Swallows and the Amazons, a world of wild forests, lakes, snake-charming savages, robbery, warfare, piracy, and exploration. At one o'clock in the morning I was up to my waist in cold water with Titty, quietly scrambling into the enemy ship 'Amazon' with my heart thudding dizzily in my chest. "Quickly, quickly!" I urged her silently, my fingers gripping the pages just as tightly as her fingers gripped the oars. When my parents came home Mum was not pleased to discover me still curled up on the sofa at three a.m, eyes wide open, desperate to prolong my camping trip on Wild Cat Island. Dad just smiled; 'Swallows and Amazons' had been a childhood favourite of his, too.

I developed an obsession with the whole series, even going so far as to adopt the language and mannerisms of Captain Nancy Blackett. ("You tame galoot!" is still one of my favourite insults, and I'm now eighteen!) The synopsis for 'Swallows and Amazons' may sound boring in comparison to Rowlingesque fantasy - six kids go away to camp on an island - but Ransome's glorious imagination has turned this most ordinary of events into an exciting adventure story that is still capable of captivating children (and the odd university student...) sixty years further on. My copies still have houseroom on my overcrowded bookshelves, their faded covers and well-thumbed pages telling everyone who enters my room how much I love them. They rarely make 'em like this any more...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Kids! You must read this!
Yes, despite the age of this book, it still works well and entertains the reader. A very good story and there's more to come as this one begins the series. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Cas Allas Mazda
5.0 out of 5 stars Great nostalgia
Great to recall so much and especially pre a visit to the lake to stay in July with wider family
Published 9 days ago by GM EDMONDSON OBE
4.0 out of 5 stars Swallows and Amazons
Came in good condition, it was to replace a copy I has lost and is a classic tale which I wanted to re read.
Published 1 month ago by Maggie UK
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book
I read this to my 7 year old son who loved it. I did find some of the sailing terms a little challenging for me but the actual story is great. Read more
Published 2 months ago by WendyH
5.0 out of 5 stars An old story that has lost none of its excitement
Many of our modern Chidren's authors should read Arthur Ransome before embarking on the quick fix realism that they believe children want today. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Doran
5.0 out of 5 stars swallows
fab book brings back great memories of childhood. its about time they remade the film up in the lakes, well heres hopeing
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Andrew D. Brown
4.0 out of 5 stars Know about sailing boats!
Never having read this as a child I thought that it was about time I did. It is an excellent story and the book is not that dated considering when it was written. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Judy Harris
5.0 out of 5 stars The past
Loved re-reading the book from my teenage years - can just remember them. It is a children's story well written and uses many mature words and thoughts
Published 3 months ago by Rev B H Keyworth
5.0 out of 5 stars swallow...
at first a bit boring and the same but my mum told me to read on. so glad i did!!! from having your foes change to friends and sailing around in the dark trying to capture boats. Read more
Published 3 months ago by ratty
5.0 out of 5 stars Magical.
My parents gave me "Peter Duck" (the third book in the series) when I was about 7, and I read the whole delightful series from there on. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Geoff New
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