Swallowdale (1931)
Synopsis and Further Information on Swallowdale
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Synopsis Swallowdale begins with the four Swallows sailing towards Wild Cat Island. A year has past, the summer holidays have come again, and they are anticipating renewal of their alliance with the Amazons and their friendship with Captain Flint. Their plans, however, are soon interrupted. Firstly, both their allies and Captain Flint are trapped at Beckfoot by the Amazons' fearsome Great Aunt Maria. Then, when they do briefly escape, John wrecks Swallow, leaving the Walkers unable to camp on the Island. They move instead to Swallowdale, a secret valley above the lake which Titty and Roger have discovered. There they camp and fish whilst Swallow is being repaired and the Amazons endure the Great Aunt. As the Great Aunt's departure draws near, the Amazons organise a major expedition for the Swallows - an overland trek to the Amazon Valley, followed by the climbing of Kanchenjunga, the largest mountain overlooking the lake. Drama ensues when Titty and Roger lose their way in a fog on the fells. Later, with Swallow repaired and returned, the Swallows and Amazons stage a race from Captain Flint's houseboat to Beckfoot. The novel ends with their return to camp on Wild Cat Island for the rest of the holiday. |
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For a more detailed synopsis of the Swallows and Amazons series, see Approaching Arthur Ransome by Peter Hunt. ISBN 0-224-03288-7. Jonathan Cape, 1991. | ||
| Further Information Swallowdale takes place a year after Swallows and Amazons, which was itself dated to 1929. However, Ransome dates the ascent of Kanchenjunga to August 11th, 1931. Clearly both dates can't be right - either the two stories took place in 1929 and 1930, or they took place in 1930 and 1931. There is evidence that Ransome decided the Swallowdale date was correct, and that he asked his publishers to change the date in Swallows and Amazons to 1930. They declined to do so, thereby leaving the apparent contradiction in the texts of the two books. |
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For a more detailed study of the background to the Swallows and Amazons Series, see Amazon Publication's The Best of Childhood, 2004. The Best of Childhood is available to current TARS Members from the Society Stall. | ||
| Swallows and Amazons (1930) | Return to "Books" | Peter Duck (1932) |
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