Swallows and Amazons

This makes a pleasant read if you don't expect too much. If you happen to come to it for the first time, you should bear in mind that:

1. It's about children between the ages of 7 and 12 on holiday in the Lake District in 1930 (the mention of 1929 in the text seems to have been a mistake), and it's not a fantasy: nothing happens that they couldn't reasonably have done in real life. Although children in 1930 were allowed to do more on their own than would be normal today.

2. The first half of the book is gentle scene-setting, not much happens. The second half is mildly adventurous, as children's real-life adventures go, but don't expect any sex or violence.

Some of the later books in this series have more interesting plots, and of course the children gradually grow older and become more capable. This first volume introduces the scenario and the characters; they get more to do later.

The author is not talking down to children; although he sets the book in what were modern times when he wrote it, I think he's also remembering his own childhood at the end of the 19th century. It gives a child's-eye view of things.

The six children in the story vary significantly in personality. I find John and Susan a bit dull because they're proto-adults: John is already shaping up to be a ship's captain and Susan is already shaping up to be a housewife and mother. Perhaps children like that really existed in 1930.

By contrast, Nancy is a rebel and born leader: a kind of feminist heroine, unexpected in 1930. And Titty is full of picturesque imagination. Peggy is a chatterbox but normally overshadowed by her sister Nancy. Roger is too young at this stage to be anything much but a small boy.

Gee. I've had this on my shelf for over two years! I finally got to it this summer.

It started slowly for me. At first I didn't think I would like it. Gradually, as I read more and more, I began to love these kids. Camping on their own deserted island. Cooking their own foods. Fishing. Battling “pirates”. Do kids these days still do things like this? I'm especially curious about whether kids would like this book.

All I know is that I did. Don't give up on it too soon. It's a book that reminds you of the power of the imagination. I can only hope that kids all over the world are still being Swallows and Amazons.

“It is a good rule after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between”, said C.S.Lewis. Now, I don't know if it is a good rule, but I do enjoy a good reread every now and then. This was one of them. Now, I read this when I was a child, some 40 years ago, and I loved it. I suppose I read it then because I thought this would be about some other kinds of swallows and amazons, but it's not worse for that :-D Also, I read it in Finnish, and as far as I know, the sequels have not been translated. So I haven't read them. I'm looking forward to do it.“Swallows and Amazons” is about two groups of siblings who have adventures on a lake during the summer holiday, with their sailing boats. We have the Walker children, John, Susan, Titty, and Roger, and the Blackett girls, Nancy and Peggy. The Walkers' dad is in the navy and teaches the children boatmanship during his holidays. I assume Nancy and Peggy were taught by their uncle. I love the equality here, even though Susan is a good little housewife, but I suppose some girls are exactly that.Anyway, they are having adventures, safe but exciting ones, in a safe environment where children can be children and train being adults... this book reminds me of Edith Nesbit's books, Enid Blyton's books, and E.T.Seton's [b:Two Little Savages 1282886 Two Little Savages Ernest Thompson Seton https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328865394l/1282886.SX50.jpg 1271917]. Very clean, safe children's books.