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Swallows and Amazons
 
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Swallows and Amazons (Paperback)

by Arthur Ransome (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Red Fox; New edition edition (1 July 1993)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 009996290X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0099962908
  • Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 11.7 x 3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 161,445 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Product Description

From Amazon.co.uk

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 alternate Paperback edition.

Amazon.co.uk 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.


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Customer Reviews

45 Reviews
5 star:
 (41)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (45 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
43 of 44 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
This review is from: Swallows and Amazons (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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33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Timeless evocation of the way things once were, 10 April 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Swallows and Amazons (Paperback)
Arthur Ransome's "Swallows and Amazons" is the first in a classic series of children's stories that will appeal to readers of all ages. The book is set in the English Lake District in the period between the two World Wars, (where the author was living at the time). It tells of a time when a healthy imagination (and the freedom to take advantage of it) was enough to keep most youngsters both amused and out of mischief. The world was a safer and simpler place back then and this book does much to make us realise just how much has been irretrievably lost since.

Not that this was ever Ransome's intention, of course. He was simply drawing upon his own boyhood experiences (from a yet earlier time) as well as contemporary ones of the children of a family friend. He used these to weave an enchanting tale that would remind those same children (by then returned 'home' to the deserts of the Middle East) of a happy summer spent sailing in England.

The story's strong basis in reality (albeit several separate realities, as it were), tempered with Ransome's love of sailing (and his knowledge of Lake District life), imbue the book with a strong sense of authority. Both the text and the author's own pen-and-ink illustrations also have an endearing charm that comes across even now, some 70 years after the book was first published. One of the great things about this book (and indeed, the whole series of books that was to follow) is that Ransome avoids most of the stereotypical treatments of children's roles that his contemporaries (as well as later authors) continually espoused. He always manages to treat (nearly!) all of his characters as equal partners in their activities, whatever their age, gender or background. The children are also afforded a greater respect and rather more freedom by the adults than is common these days, too.

And while the children's 'adventures' are nothing fantastical or extra-ordinary when viewed from an absolute perspective, Ransome manages to convey so much of the children's own excitement at their activities that the reader can't help being drawn into their world and so come to share some of that same excitement. All in all, this a delightful book and should be on everybody's essential reading list, regardless of their age!

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48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Swallows and Amazons, 6 May 2006
By Philip Knight "Phil Knight" (Berkshire, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Swallows and Amazons (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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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Deservedly a classic
As a child I read and re-read this book and its sequels. I loved them because of the freedom and adventure they offered and the fact that they were so exciting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley

5.0 out of 5 stars Childhood revisited
As review for Swallowdale.

This book was bought for one of my Step-grandchildren, to introduce her to these wonderful stories. Read more
Published 1 month ago by E. McIvor

5.0 out of 5 stars Set sail for great stories!
A classic from my youth! I had never set foot in a boat, but new that I would love sailing - now I am grown up and have my own boat and it is time to pass on the story to the next... Read more
Published 4 months ago by uberdada

2.0 out of 5 stars Editor Editor! Take Your Knife to It!!
It was my wife who suggested I read Swallows and Amazons to my ten year old son. My first reaction was to look at its 400+ pages and thought 'this better be good'. Read more
Published 4 months ago by C. Mawson

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect choice
I brought Swallows and Amazons as a gift for a young lad of 10 who has moved to the lake district and will be having lots of adventures himself. Read more
Published 5 months ago by C. J. MURTAGH

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic for all ages
On a recent holiday in the Lake District I was told it was the setting for this book - but my wife was surprised I hadn't read it when I was 10-years-old or so. Read more
Published 6 months ago by L. Signy

5.0 out of 5 stars timeless classic
In today's hectic world where childhood seems so short, and greed and commercialism are the order of the day, isn't it wonderful to come back to this delightful book. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Sue Birch

5.0 out of 5 stars Swallows and Amazons
It is great to see that this timelss classic is still very popular. Like most of the sailing community Swallows and Amazons created in me a passion for sailing that has stayed... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dorothy and Kenneth

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, gripping storytelling
My Dad had the whole series given to him in the original hardback editions, and they aroused my interest as a child, sitting as an imposing two-foot length of green spines... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Andrew

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic adventure story!
I can't believe I missed out on this one as a child... but it's just as good coming to it as an adult. The perfect lazy Sunday afternoon book to read. Read more
Published 23 months ago by S. Barnes

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