One of the very great things about Ransome's series of Swallows and Amazons books is the subtle way in which the characters grow older. Beneath the surface of this story is the clear indication that Nancy - public school educated and wise to the world - is growing out of being a pirate and is beginning to prefer playing the part of a young wife and mother. Her silent disillusion with the fantasy world she has created in the previous books becomes a poignant element in this novel.

The book is a war-time book - first published in 1943 - and this has an effect, I believe: the GA represents of course an invading army with her Fascist rules and intolerance of fancy; the two kind adults - Mother and Uncle Jim are abroad as so many adults were in 1943 England; the Picts are a kind of resistance movement toelrated and silently encouraged by a community which wants them to succeed but which does not want to be compromised by their failure.

Add to this the Amazons' grasp of SBS tactics and we have a classic.

Buy the hardback.