Swallows and Amazons

The classic English series begins with a tale of two families of children uniting against a common foe: an uncle who claims he's too busy for his nieces. The Walker children (John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are on school holiday in the Lake District and are sailing a borrowed catboat named Swallow, when they meet the Blackett children (Nancy and Peggy), who sail the boat Amazon. The children camp together on Wild Cat Island where a plot is hatched against the Blacketts' Uncle Jim who is too busy writing his memoirs to be disturbed. Fireworks-literally-ensue along with a dangerous contest, a run-in with houseboat burglars, and the theft of Uncle Jim's manuscript. How all this is resolved makes for an exciting and very satisfying story. Uncle Jim ends up apologizing for missing his nieces' adventures all summer-thankfully, readers won't miss a thing. Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Like the entire series that follows, this book is for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure and imagination, exploring and setting sail. The basis for the 2016 film starring Kelly MacDonald, Andrew Scott, and Rafe Spall.

A group of English children share a summer adventure, featuring a shipwreck, a secret valley and cave, a thrilling mountain hike, and a stickler aunt. On summer holiday, the Swallows (John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker) and the Amazons (Nancy and Peggy Blackett) meet up on Wild Cat Island. Unfortunately, though, the Amazons have a problem: their Great Aunt Maria has come to visit and she demands that the Amazon pirates act like "young ladies." Things get worse when the Swallows discover a very high hill that just begs to be climbed... How the Amazons escape the Great Aunt, arrange a rendezvous, and mount an expedition to sleep under the stars on the summit makes a very exciting and satisfying story. Friendship, resourcefulness, and sailing, too: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Swallowdale (originally published in 1931) is the second title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure and imagination.

A team of intrepid English children set sail for treasure in the Caribbean only to encounter pirates, sharks, and other dangers. It all begins when Peter Duck, an elderly sailor once marooned on an island in the Caribbean, tells a tale to the Swallows (John, Susan, Titty, and Roger Walker) and Amazons (Nancy and Peggy Blackett). It's a tale of buried treasure and, unfortunately, when the kids set sail to find it, the pirate Jake, captain of the Viper, follows. Across the Atlantic Ocean, through fog, threats from pirate Jake, a hurricane, and an earthquake once they land, the Swallows and Amazons must find the treasure, evade the pirates, and return safely home to England. Friendship, resourcefulness, and sailing, too: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Peter Duck (originally published in 1932) is the third title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure and imagination.

New friends, a blizzard, a frozen lake, and a case of the mumps make one grand wintertime adventure for a group of children in this classic series. The Ds (Dick and Dorothea) meet the Swallows and Amazons during the winter beside the lake and they all become great friends: joining together in ice skating, learning semaphore signals, refashioning an igloo, and building an ice sled. But a misunderstanding leads to disaster as Dick and Dorothea head off across the frozen lake to a spot they have named the "North Pole." And, Nancy, the Amazon leader, meanwhile is stuck at home with mumps ... Friendship and resourcefulness, dangers and rescues: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Winter Holiday (originally published in 1933) is the fourth title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.

Danger and excitement await a vacationing brother and sister when they team up with local children to stop poachers in eastern England. Dick and Dorothea Callum came to the Norfolk Broads during the Easter holidays, eager to learn to sail. There, they run into the Coot Club Bird Protection Society, children who protect the local birds from thoughtless tourists. Trouble begins when a coot's nest is disturbed by a ship full of "Hullabaloos" -rude holiday boaters. The children try to convince the "Hullabaloos" to moor their noisy boat somewhere else. This fails, and frantic chases, calamitous boat collisions, daring rescues (including by a dog, William the pug), and rewards ensue! Friendship and resourcefulness, dangers and excitement: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. Coot Club (originally published in 1934) was ahead of its time in its concern for protecting wildlife.

Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. Ransome is not only a great storyteller, writing from first-hand experience, but each story celebrates eternally valuable qualities of practical knowledge, independence, and initiative. The twelve books are for children or grownups-anyone captivated by a world of sailing, adventure, and imagination. The crew's on holiday for their sixth adventure, and they turn their energies to mining for gold, aided by pigeon messengers Homer, Sophocles, and Sappho. The adventurers comb the nearby hills for a fabled lost claim, while being shadowed by a mysterious figure they dub "squashy hat." Undeterred by drought, sudden brushfires, and the continuing presence of Squashy Hat, the young prospectors persevere in their quest-with surprising results. Full of the dangers and dark adventures of old mines and forgotten claims, Pigeon Post has an irresistible appeal to the persistent explorer in all of us.

Four siblings go on an accidental adventure when they're swept across the sea-all the way to Holland-in this entry from the classic children's series. The Swallows only meant to sail within an estuary on a borrowed boat. They didn't mean to get stranded in the fog, lose their anchor in a storm, and be driven out into the North Sea. John is nearly swept overboard, their ship almost capsizes-and Susan really regrets not doing as their mother asked. And their father, Navy Commander Ted Walker, is due back from his posting in Hong Kong any time and they might miss seeing him . . . Family, resourcefulness, and sailing, too: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (originally published in 1937) is the seventh title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.

As the classic series continues, an unexpected visitor forces a group of children to go to great lengths to enjoy a summer of fun and adventure. The Amazons' mother (doubtless suffering from exhaustion) has gone off sailing in the North Sea with Captain Flint on a rest cure, but she has allowed her two daughters to stay on the lakeshore with their trusty cook. She's also permitted their two old friends, Dick and Dorothea Callum, to come up for a visit. But when the redoubtable Great Aunt hears of their abandonment, she's horrified and off on the next train. The Amazons are dismayed; not only will their solo holiday be ruined, but now they'll also have to hide their two guests in the woods in an abandoned shepherd's cottage (where they'll be forced to live off the land like the ancient Celtic, "Picts") while the Blackett sisters will be required to dress up in white pinafores, practice the piano, and recite reams of poetry aloud (therefore "The Martyrs"). Friendship and resourcefulness, dangers and excitement: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. The Picts & the Martyrs (originally published in 1943) is the eleventh title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.

As this classic series continues, adventuring children off the western coast of Scotland spot a strange bird and soon land themselves in danger. While on a sailing cruise with Cap. Flint exploring in the Outer Hebrides, the Swallows, Amazons, and the Ds spot a mysterious bird nesting on an island in a loch. Could it be a great northern diver, never known to nest in the British Isles? They tell their discovery to a local expert who secretly collects birds' eggs and stuffed skins of birds. The collector sets off with a gun-and the children set off to stop him. Friendship and resourcefulness, dangers and excitement: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters-and children are the heroes. Great Northern? (originally published in 1947) is the twelfth and final completed title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.