Swallows and Amazons - wikipedia Swallows and Amazons This article is about the 1930 novel. For other uses, see Swallows and Amazons ( disambiguation ). Swallows and Amazons First edition dust jacket cover 1930 Author Arthur Ransome Illustrator 1st edition was not illustrated, later editions illustrated by Clifford Webb and later Arthur Ransome Cover artist Steven Spurrier Country United Kingdom Language English Series Swallows and Amazons series Genre Children 's, adventure novel Publisher Jonathan Cape Publication date 1 December 1930 OCLC 5973192 Followed by Swallowdale Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the Swallows and Amazons series by English author Arthur Ransome ; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District. The book introduces central protagonists John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker ( Swallows ) and their mother and baby sister ( Bridget ), as well as Nancy and Peggy Blackett ( Amazons ) and their uncle Jim, commonly referred to as Captain Flint. At the time, Ransome had been working as a journalist with the Manchester Guardian, but decided to become a full - time author rather than go abroad as a foreign correspondent. He did continue to write part - time for the press, however. The book was inspired by a summer spent by Ransome teaching the children of his friends, the Altounyans, to sail. Three of the Altounyan children 's names are adopted directly for the Walker family. Ransome and Ernest Altounyan bought two small dinghies called Swallow and Mavis. Ransome kept Swallow until he sold it a number of years later, while Mavis remained in the Altounyan family and is now on permanent display in the Ruskin Museum. However, later in life Ransome tried to downplay the Altounyan connections, changing the initial dedication of Swallows and Amazons and writing a new foreword which gave other sources. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 57 on the BBC 's survey The Big Read. Contents 1 Illustrations 2 Plot summary 3 Major characters in Swallows and Amazons 4 Places in Swallows and Amazons 5 Critical reception 6 Film, TV, radio and theatrical adaptations 6.1 1963 TV adaptation 6.2 1974 film version 6.3 2016 film version 6.4 Other versions 7 Release details 8 See also 9 References 10 External links Illustrations The artist chosen for the first edition of the book was Steven Spurrier, but Ransome objected to his style and so the first edition did not have any illustrations. Spurrier 's drawing for the dust jacket had to be used. The second edition contained drawings by Clifford Webb but after Ransome successfully illustrated Peter Duck himself, he decided to do his own drawings for all the books, including those already published, and Webb 's drawings were replaced in later editions. Plot summary The book relates the outdoor adventures and play of two families of children. These involve sailing, camping, fishing, exploration and piracy. The Walker children ( John, Susan, Titty and Roger ) are staying at a farm near a lake in the Lake District of England, during the school holidays. They sail a borrowed dinghy named Swallow and meet the Blackett children ( Nancy and Peggy ), who sail a dinghy named Amazon. The Walkers camp on an island in the lake while the Blacketts live in their house nearby. When the children meet, they agree to join forces against a common enemy -- the Blacketts ' uncle Jim Turner whom they call `` Captain Flint '' ( after the character in Treasure Island ). Turner, normally an ally of his nieces, has withdrawn from their company to write his memoirs, and has become decidedly unfriendly. Furthermore, when the Blacketts let off a firework on his houseboat roof, it is the Walkers who get the blame. He refuses even to listen when they try to pass on a warning to him about burglars in the area. To determine who should be the overall leader in their campaign against Captain Flint, the Blacketts and the Walkers have a contest to see which can capture the others ' boat. As part of their strategy the Walkers make a dangerous crossing of the lake by night, and John is later cautioned by his mother for this reckless act. The Walkers nevertheless win the contest -- thanks to Titty who seizes the Amazon when the Blacketts come to Wild Cat Island. During the same night Titty hears suspicious voices coming from a different island -- Cormorant Island -- and in the morning it transpires that Turner 's houseboat has been burgled. Turner again blames the Walkers, but is finally convinced that he is mistaken and feels he was wrong to distance himself from his nieces ' adventures all summer. The Swallows, Amazons and Turner investigate Cormorant Island, but they can not find Turner 's missing trunk. The following day there is a mock battle between Turner and the children, after which Turner is tried for his crimes and forced to walk the plank on his own houseboat. They agree at the post-battle feast that on the final day of their holidays Titty and Roger will go back to Cormorant Island while the others go fishing. Titty finds the trunk, which contains the memoirs on which Turner had been working, and is rewarded with Turner 's green parrot. James Turner appears in some ways to be modelled on Ransome himself. The story, set in August 1929, includes a good deal of everyday Lakeland life from the farmers to charcoal burners working in the woods ; corned beef, which the children fancifully refer to as pemmican, and ginger beer and lemonade, which they call grog, appear as regular food stuff for the campers ; island life also allows for occasional references to the story of Robinson Crusoe. Major characters in Swallows and Amazons See also List of characters in Arthur Ransome books John Walker -- Eldest of the Walkers and captain of the Swallow Susan Walker -- Second eldest of the Walkers and mate of the Swallow Titty Walker -- Able Seaman of the Swallow. This name was the nickname of the real life Mavis Altounyan, from Joseph Jacobs 's children 's story, Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse. It has been changed to Kitty in the original BBC adaptation of the book, and Tatty for a 2016 BBC Films adaptation Roger Walker -- Youngest of the sailing Walkers and ship 's boy of the Swallow Bridget Walker -- ( nicknamed `` Vicky '' due to a resemblance to pictures of Queen Victoria in old age, and referred to as such in the book ) Youngest of the Walkers and ship 's baby of the Swallow Nancy Blackett ( Ruth ) -- Captain of the Amazon Peggy Blackett ( Margaret ) -- Nancy 's younger sister and mate of the Amazon James Turner -- Nancy and Peggy 's uncle. Known to the children as `` Captain Flint '' Places in Swallows and Amazons According to Ransome, every place in his book can be found in the Lake District, but he took different locations and placed them in different ways : the lake is a fictionalised version of Windermere but the surrounding countryside more closely resembles that around Coniston. Wild Cat Island, the location of the island camp, has elements from Peel Island in Coniston and Blake Holme ( or Blakeholme ) in Windermere. Holly Howe, the farmhouse where the Swallows stay, is based on Bank Ground Farm, which exists to this day. It was featured in the 1974 film. Critical reception Reviewing the book for UK daily newspaper The Manchester Guardian ( forerunner of The Guardian ) Malcolm Muggeridge wrote : `` Children 's books are probably the most difficult of all to write ; they are certainly the most difficult to review. For children alone can properly judge their worth, and children, very wisely, never review. An adult has to refer back to his own childhood and ask himself : Would I have enjoyed such a book then ? The answer, in the case of Swallow and Amazons, ( sic ) is very definitely, Yes. Moreover, the book is entirely charming quite apart from its qualities as child literature. This is rare ; for, generally speaking, nothing makes drearier reading than the conscious juvenility of adults. '' Muggeridge continued by saying, `` Mr. Ransome has the same magical power that Lewis Carroll had of being the child in terms of himself. He never talks down ; never finds it necessary to be patronising or sentimental. And sentimentality is the most terrible pitfall that besets those who venture into the world of play. (... ) Captain John and Mate Susan, and Able - seaman Titty, and Ship 's Boy Roger are not at all like Christopher Robin. ( T ) hey are children. And the story of their adventures on a little island in the middle of an English lake is thrilling just because it is not fabulous. (... ) It is make - believe such as all children have indulged in : even children who have not been so fortunate as to have a lake and a boat and an island but only a backyard amongst the semis of Suburbia. '' Film, tv, radio and theatrical adaptations 1963 tv adaptation In 1963, the BBC produced an adaptation, Swallows and Amazons, with John Paul as `` Captain Flint '' and Susan George as the renamed `` Kitty ''. The series was directed by Peter Saunders. 1974 film version Main article : Swallows and Amazons ( 1974 film ) EMI released a version in 1974, directed by Claude Whatham and produced by Richard Pilbrow. The film starred Virginia McKenna ( Mrs. Walker ) and Ronald Fraser ( Uncle Jim ), and Sophie Neville ( Titty ), Zanna Hamilton ( Susan ), Simon West ( John ) and Stephen Grendon ( Roger ) as the Swallows. 2016 film version Main article : Swallows and Amazons ( 2016 film ) The 2016 film was directed by Philippa Lowthorpe and written by Andrea Gibb. The film stars Andrew Scott, Rafe Spall, Kelly Macdonald, Jessica Hynes, and Harry Enfield. Other versions In August 1999 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio adaptation by David Wood with Jean Anderson as Titty seventy years later narrating. Young Titty was played by Phoebe Phillips, John by John Paul Ekins, Susan by Flora Harris, Roger by Joe Sowerbutts, mother by Penny Downie, Nancy by Catherine Poole, Peggy by Jackie Swainson and Uncle Jim by Nicholas Le Prevost. The Royal National Theatre started developing a musical version of Swallows and Amazons in 2007. Helen Edmundson wrote the book and lyrics while The Divine Comedy 's frontman Neil Hannon wrote the music. The musical premiered at the Bristol Old Vic on 1 December 2010 and played at the Vaudeville Theatre, in London 's West End, from 15 December 2011, prior to going on tour around the UK from January to May 2012. The production features adults playing the children and has been received favourably by reviewers. Release details 1930, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1 December 1930, hardback ( First edition, unillustrated ) 1931, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1931, hardback ( First `` Clifford Webb '' illustrated edition ) 1931, US, J.B. Lippincott company, Philadelphia, 1931. Hardback, no full illustrations, front and back plates plus chapter headings by Helene Carter. 1938, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1938, hardback ( First `` Ransome '' illustrated edition ) 1958, US, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins ( ISBN 0 - 397 - 30015 - 8 ), Pub date ? June 1958, hardback 1994, US, David R. Godine, Publisher ( ISBN 978 - 1 - 56792 - 420 - 6 ), paperback 1995, UK, ISIS Audio Books ( ISBN 1 - 85695 - 974 - 0 ), Pub date August 1995, audio book cassette ( unabridged ) 1999, UK, Jonathan Cape ( ISBN 0 - 224 - 60631 - X ), Pub date 1999, hardback 2001, UK, Red Fox Classics ( ISBN 0 - 09 - 950391 - 3 ), Pub date 5 April 2001, paperback 2001, UK, Red Fox ( ISBN 0 - 09 - 942733 - 8 ), Pub date 5 October 2001, paperback 2005, UK, Gabriel Woolf ( ISBN 0 - 9550529 - 0 - 4 ), Pub date July 2005, audio book CD 2010, US, David R. Godine, Publisher ( ISBN 978 - 1567924206 ), Pub date 16 July 2010, paperback revised edition See also Novels portal List of characters in Arthur Ransome books Roger Altounyan -- real - life scientist ; Ransome named characters in the story after Altounyan and his sisters. Swallows and Amazons series References Jump up ^ Autobiography of Arthur Ransome, Arthur Ransome, ed. Rupert Hart - Davis, 1976 Jump up ^ The Life of Arthur Ransome, Hugh Brogan, 1984 Jump up ^ `` BBC -- The Big Read ''. BBC. April 2003. Retrieved 1 December 2012 Jump up ^ Origin of Mavis Altounyan 's nickname of Titty Jump up ^ Ben Child ( 24 May 2016 ). `` Titty 's family ' furious ' over name change for Swallows and Amazons film ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 25 May 2016. Jump up ^ Hardyment, Christina ( 1984 ). Arthur Ransome and Captain Flint 's Trunk ( 1988 ed. ). Jonathan Cape. p. 47.... the lake of the books is almost exactly Windermere, but that the land round about it was much more like Coniston. Jump up ^ Hardyment ( 1984 : 66 -- 67 ) Jump up ^ Hardyment ( 1984 : 32 ) Jump up ^ Muggeridge, Malcolm ( 21 July 1930 ). `` Swallows and Amazons book review, 1930 -- archive ''. The Guardian. Manchester. Retrieved 26 October 2016. Jump up ^ Staff. `` Swallows and Amazons : Swallows and Amazons Episode 1 Sailing Orders ''. British Film Institute. Retrieved 10 June 2015. Jump up ^ `` Other Writing 1999 ''. David Wood. Retrieved 18 May 2011. Jump up ^ `` article revealing the Royal National Theatre 's plans for a stage musical adaptation of Swallows and Amazons ''. Inthenews.co.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2011. Jump up ^ `` Swallows and Amazons at Vaudeville Theatre -- West End ''. Time Out. London. Retrieved 6 September 2011. Jump up ^ `` Swallows and Amazons UK Tour 2012 ''. Retrieved 24 January 2012. Jump up ^ Spencer, Charles ( 8 December 2010 ). `` Swallows and Amazons, Bristol Old Vic, review. Daily Telegraph, December 8, 2010 ''. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 May 2011. Jump up ^ Michael Billington ( 9 December 2010 ). `` Swallows and Amazons review, Guardian, December 8, 2010 ''. The Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2011. External links Wikiquote has quotations related to : Swallows and Amazons Swallows and Amazons at Faded Page ( Canada ) Swallows and Amazons information and news website TarBoard, the Arthur Ransome and ' Swallows and Amazons ' forum The 1963 TV series at the Internet Movie Database The 1974 film at the Internet Movie Database The 2016 film at the Internet Movie Database The 2016 film 's official website The original boats now housed in the Cumbrian museum -- BBC photo website The 2011 -- 12 theatrical production 's official website ( at the Internet Archive ) The 2014 -- 15 theatrical production 's pages at the Bristol Old Vic Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome Novels Swallows and Amazons Swallowdale Peter Duck Winter Holiday Coot Club Pigeon Post We Did n't Mean to Go to Sea Secret Water The Big Six Missee Lee The Picts and the Martyrs Great Northern ? Coots in the North Adaptations Swallows and Amazons ( TV, 1963 ) Swallows and Amazons ( Film, 1974 ) Swallows and Amazons Forever ! ( TV, 1984 ) Swallows and Amazons ( Film, 2016 ) See also Characters Nancy Blackett Places Boats Wild Cat Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Swallows_and_Amazons&oldid=830645646 '' Categories : 1930 in fiction 1930 British novels 1930 children 's books Adventure novels British children 's novels British novels adapted into films Jonathan Cape books Swallows and Amazons series Novels set in Cumbria Novels set on islands Hidden categories : EngvarB from September 2017 Use dmy dates from September 2017 Pages to import images to Wikidata Articles with Project Gutenberg links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Čeština Polski Edit links This page was last edited on 16 March 2018, at 02 : 46. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. 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Question: name of the island in swallows and amazons
Answer: Wild Cat Island