Swallows & Amazons #1-4 by Arthur Ransome
Publication: David R Godine, Paperback, ~330 pages each
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Rating: 
overall
Challenges: Seafaring Challenge II (#3-5)
Read: August/September 2009
The Swallows and Amazons book series all take place in 1930′s England, and all the characters are most often either on or near a book. It’s a children’s series that emphasizes the fun of the outdoors without being tiresome and focusing on outdoors survival (like some other books are). Very little is said about the actual living outdoors parts, confined only to mentions about building fires and setting up tents. All the food is provided by adults, and so the children are free to play and have fun. Imagination is a big part of the series, with each book having an adventure the protagonists go on, like finding the North Pole or beating pirates to treasure. They don’t really explore the Arctic, but it’s just as good as if they had.
Mr. Ransome’s writing is refreshingly modern, in that all the characters talk like I imagine 1930′s children talked (but with less slang) and every action makes sense (unlike some other 1930′s children’s books). He’s not overly sentimental or nostalgic, but you can clearly see the love he has for these places (and the ships). The endings are very matter-of-fact and not all all gushy and revolting, and the entire package is, I think, something to treasure.
Reading the S&A books actually calms me down (as well as making me wish I could sail). I’m sticking them in the same category as Noel Streatfeild and Diana Wynne Jones’ books– authors and books that I read when I feel sad or sick. They always make me feel better!
I’ve decided to talk about each book individually, so I can maybe discuss things with people in comments! 
But, uh, if you haven’t read the books already I’m going to warn that there are (tiny) SPOILERS. If you don’t want to know anything specific about the books before you read them (because you should read them), then don’t bother scrolling down (or clicking the jump). If you don’t care, or if you’ve already read the books, read on!
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