Swallows And Amazons

I absolutely loved this book as a boy…. The simple line drawings were just wonderful; they gave the feeling of wide open spaces and freedom. – Tony RossMy childhood simply would not have been the same without this book. It created a whole world to explore, one that lasted long in the imagination after the final page had been read – Markus SedgwickAll the thrills of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe * Daily Telegraph *The very stuff of play * The Guardian *Thrilling not only to young readers fond of the sea, but also to older readers who remember how they enjoyed sea stories when they themselves were young * Scotsman *Enchanting and escapist * Sunday Express *Thrilling not only to young readers fond of the sea, but also to older readers who remember how they enjoyed sea stories when they themselves were young * Scotsman *All the thrills of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe * Daily Telegraph *Enchanting and escapist * Sunday Express *There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating * Times Literary Supplement *

Arthur Ransome was born in Leeds in 1884 and went to school at Rugby. He was in Russia in 1917, and witnessed the Revolution, which he reported for the Manchester Guardian. After escaping to Scandinavia, he settled in the Lake District with his Russian wife where, in 1929, he wrote Swallows and Amazons; so began a writing career which has produced some of the best children’s treasures of all time. In 1936 he won the first ever Carnegie Medal for his book, Pigeon Post.