Ransome again

[Spuddy]

Recently had a go at "The Last Englishman", another biography of Arthur Ransome. This one promised to go more into his earlier years and time in Russia. I thought it was worth a crack to get more of an insight into those turbulent times. Dunno if it was the writing or the events, but I stuck it out to half way then took it down the charity book shop - just too much minor tooing and froing.
To compensate, I dug out a very battered paperback of Racundra's First Cruise and enjoyed that very much. I reckon it's a good model for writing a cruising yarn - the voyage descriptions pall quite quickly ("steer, anchor, reef, eat ") as in most such but he's a competent old scribbler and rings the changes nicely.

 

[Lakesailor]

Yep. I battled through to the end. It wasn't electrifying writing. But (and it pains me to say this) people interested enough to do the research and produce books about Ransome are not going to be in his league.
I have Hugh Brogan's Life of Arthur Ransome sat on the coffee table ready for me when I finish Keith Richard's "Life".
Somehow I think it may be a bit of a comedown.
I can recommend Keef's book. It is really well written and not the sort of celebrity *******s you often get.
Let's face it, he actually has had a life.
Also qualifies as a boaty book as they used to use his Riva "Mandrax" to blast from Cap Ferrat on the Riviera to Italy for breakfast.

 

[Gwylan]

Read it from front to back, because I'd paid for it. Also wondered what he was like - considering what middle class tosh his books are.

Not sure that the account is totally balanced or did he really 'go up the pub' with the Central Committee?
Was he a closet commie, as some liked to suggest?

Was going to send it to Dylan 'cause I know how much he thinks of Ransome and his works. He'll probably be along shortly

 

[Lakesailor]

Also wondered what he was like - considering what middle class tosh his books are.

Seems a funny stance. They were of their time and were written for children. Whatever book you write has to be placed in some social environment, so is it middle-class that you object to?


Or is it just that you think them rubbish stories?

The films have been, perhaps, too true to the books. Film doesn't travel across the years as well as books do.
There could be room for a modern interpretation. But the anoraks would squeal.

 

[Wansworth]

Did the working class go yachting? Read lots of the old books on cruising alongtime ago Isuppose the newer wanabe yachtsmen read more uptodate accounts but the old books have a pleasant timeless ness .....

 

[skpt]

fishing fleets were sail and then they raced them years ago so the working class did sail or at least round here they did

 

[Seajet]

I happened to see a bit of 'The Antiques Roadshow' the other day and someone had a letter written by Arthur Ransome in reply to a query from a young reader.

This young girl had sketched out a map showing the semi-fictional Lake District sites mentioned in the relevant books, saying " is this where they are ? ".

A.R. wrote a kind but guarded reply, on the lines that he couldn't divulge a secret or it would no longer be one; apparently that was typical, and unsurprisingly there is an established market for letters or anything else to do with Ransome.

The letter, with the girls' initial query and map, was valued around £100 I think.

 

[semisimple]

Seems a funny stance. They were of their time and were written for children. Whatever book you write has to be placed in some social environment, so is it middle-class that you object to?


Or is it just that you think them rubbish stories?

The films have been, perhaps, too true to the books. Film doesn't travel across the years as well as books do.
There could be room for a modern interpretation. But the anoraks would squeal.

The films still works, I showed it to a whole bunch of kids and they loved it (except for the little sniggering over names). The books are great fun - and I say that having only read them 15 years ago.

 

[Seajet]

A friend at my sailing club with the same type of boat as me has a couple of young boys aged about 4 & 5 ( I'm hopeless at ages ).

I gave them new copies of Swallows and Amazons & We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea ( the first I read as a boy, still my favourite ) which he reads to them, apparently the books have gone down well.

The other day I lent their boat my outboard, as theirs had seized and they had their hearts set on a little trip over Easter ( I wasn't going anywhere anyway ).

Simon rowed up with his boys, " The Swallows want to say thankyou ".

So Ransome's magic still works, and the world maybe isn't so cynical nowadays after all...

 

[semisimple]

Simon rowed up with his boys, " The Swallows want to say thankyou ".

So Ransome's magic still works, and the world maybe isn't so cynical nowadays after all...

That's sweet! My little sister (can't remember how old, but in primary school) read through all 12 of the Swallows/Amazons books in a month and wanted more.

Middle class tosh my arse.

Although I did once give Three men in a boat to a friend, and he threw it back in my face with a disgusted 'middle class nonsense' look. I don't understand, I love it, it's one of the few books that have me laughing my head off in public

 

[chinita]

Seems a funny stance. They were of their time and were written for children. Whatever book you write has to be placed in some social environment, so is it middle-class that you object to?


Or is it just that you think them rubbish stories?

The films have been, perhaps, too true to the books. Film doesn't travel across the years as well as books do.
There could be room for a modern interpretation. But the anoraks would squeal.

I don't care what class it is; I just find it refreshing to read good English.

I read Riddle of the Sands about once a year as well, just to delight in the purity of the writing.