Book Review by John

SWALLOWS AND AMAZONS by Arthur Ransome

Synopsis: 

The Walker children - also known as Captain John, Mate Susan, Able-Seaman Titty, and Ship's Boy Roger - set sail on the Swallow and head for Wild Cat Island. There they camp under open skies, swim in clear water and go fishing for their dinner. But their days are disturbed by the Blackett sisters, the fierce Amazon pirates. The Swallows and Amazons decide to battle it out, and so begins a summer of unforgettable discoveries and incredible adventures.

"There is a great sense at the end of the adventure that it is the beginning of a new adventure.This is a brilliant novel and one of the best stories that I have ever read. One has the drama of the burglary and of the mini-war between the Swallows and the Amazons. I enjoyed the descriptive writing, and personal illustrations by the author himself. I loved the characterisation and the beautiful relationships between the different members of the family.There is something very alluring and romantic about the idyllic holiday setting in the Lake District. I also took great pleasure in the imaginative world of pirates and high-seas adventure that the children themselves create to enliven each day of their vacation."  John