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18ck 's review for:
Swallows and Amazons
by Arthur Ransome
I was given a copy of this by my uncle when I was about ten but a grandparent opined that it was a difficult read and that put me off from ever picking it up.
Thirty six years later, I can see what she meant. While there's nothing difficult about the vocabulary, sentence structure or themes, the sheer volume of nautical jargon makes it hard work. I suppose it was written at a time when British naval power was critically important. After all, a decade later it was pretty much all that stood between us and defeat at the hands of the Nazis. The characters are all steeped in boat lore. Boat lore, pirate adventures and late imperialism.
The other thing that jumps out at the modern reader is how much freedom the children have. The eldest is twelve and the youngest, seven, but they go off sailing around in a boat for days and days, completely unsupervised, stay up all night, and go for long chats with charcoal burners in the woods. Their parents' attitude is "better drowned than duffers". I think I approve of this, although the idea of my daughter (who is the same age as Susan) going sailing with a twelve years old captain is OUT OF THE QUESTION!!! And that's perhaps a little sad, but true.
Speaking of my daughter, she started out reading with me but the description of Roger playing sailing boats in about page two was enough sailor talk for her and she dropped out early on.
Thirty six years later, I can see what she meant. While there's nothing difficult about the vocabulary, sentence structure or themes, the sheer volume of nautical jargon makes it hard work. I suppose it was written at a time when British naval power was critically important. After all, a decade later it was pretty much all that stood between us and defeat at the hands of the Nazis. The characters are all steeped in boat lore. Boat lore, pirate adventures and late imperialism.
The other thing that jumps out at the modern reader is how much freedom the children have. The eldest is twelve and the youngest, seven, but they go off sailing around in a boat for days and days, completely unsupervised, stay up all night, and go for long chats with charcoal burners in the woods. Their parents' attitude is "better drowned than duffers". I think I approve of this, although the idea of my daughter (who is the same age as Susan) going sailing with a twelve years old captain is OUT OF THE QUESTION!!! And that's perhaps a little sad, but true.
Speaking of my daughter, she started out reading with me but the description of Roger playing sailing boats in about page two was enough sailor talk for her and she dropped out early on.