false 11843465 549570 979765 0879235721 9780879235727 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1179964395m/979765.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/979765.Swallowdale 4.17 160 72120 4.08 2075 193 5 0 false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 06 20:48:37 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 06 20:58:26 -0800 2008
I probably won't read more of these, but I did indeed love S&A and this one.

They are a rare breed, wonderfully summed by a quote on the jacket of the wonderful old Jonathan Cape edition I read. Eric Linklater, in the Observer, writing about Great Northern, another of Ransome's books, wrote "It is perhaps, Mr. Ransome's happiest gift to dress all his invention in good workmanlike clothes. He makes a tale of adventure a handbook to adventure."

The books are carefully constructed to teach. I learned useful tidbits about sailing, camping, and cooking.

(I've remarked elsewhere that I've seen this quality in Captain Marryat's Masterman Ready and in Cory Doctorow's forthcoming Little Brother. It is a real gift. Ransome does it effortlessly.)

The books also have a wonderful approach to encouraging the imaginative life of children. The wilful suspension of disbelief, the sudden fears, the desire for independence and competency, are given rare outlet.

There are elements that seem dated today -- for example, the complete trust of strangers (not to mention the willingness of a mother to allow her children to run truly wild at a young age.) Most dated, but in a charming way, are the sex roles of the children. The second child, Susan, is characterized as the "first mate" of the ship, and is always seen practicing for her adult role as wife and mother.

But the younger sister is still given rein to play at the adventurer, so the novels aren't overtly sexist, and quite frankly, I can see how modeling different adult roles in play is actually a good representation of how children act.

Overall, these books are charming. I recommend, nay encourage, them for all children of an age able to read them. In fact, I ran out and bought a copy for my godson immediately.]]>