Things to do while kids are at home

The original first edition 1930 Hardback

In researching children's books about sailing so I can do a remote session with our grandnephews in isolation in America, I came across what turns out to be a classic book series and set of movies called Swallows and Amazons by British author Arthur Ransome. His Swallows and Amazons series of novels (written between 1931 and 1947) remain in print today and were made into two successful movies, one in the 1970s and the other released in 2016. Those never made it onto my radar in the US. So I have some catching up to do. They sound wonderful.

This first book tells of a wonderful summer of adventure, discovery and friendship. Inspired by the author's own real-life sailing experiences in the beautiful Lake District of Cumbria in the northwest of England as a child. There are many editions over the years, including the first with cover art by Steven Spurrier. The 1st edition was not illustrated, while later editions were illustrated by Clifford Webb and later Arthur Ransome himself, who also illustrated many of the later books in the series with simple but characterful black and white drawings.

It's the summer holidays, and the Walker children - otherwise known as Captain John, Mate Susan, Able-Seaman Titty and Ship's Boy Roger - are excited to be setting off for the country with their mother. The plan is to go camping under open skies. They set sail on a borrowed dinghy called Swallow, bound for adventure on Wild Cat Island in the middle of the lake. They think they are alone but discover two fierce Amazon pirates already on the island who challenge them to war.

In the battle for ownership of the island, they learn survival skills, the value of friendship and the importance of being fearless. But during this battle, they discover that their 'uncle' Turner, who lives in a houseboat while writing his memoirs, has become irritable and mean. The children unite against Turner, becoming lifelong friends as a result. I believe the later of the two movies has an espionage aspect to it in which Turner is being followed by foreign agents destined to take him out. The story unfolds much like Riddle of the Sands for children.

Anyway, it sounds like I need to acquire the works.  

Digitally remastered 1974 movie on DVD and Amazon Prime

Ransome illustrated edition

Movie 2016

Print Editions

1930, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1 December 1930, hardback (First edition, unillustrated)
1931, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1931, hardback (First Clifford Webb illustrated edition)
1931, US, J.B.Lippincott company, Philadelphia, hardback, no full illustrations
1938, UK, Jonathan Cape, Pub date 1938, hardback (First Ransome illustrated edition)
1958, US, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (ISBN 0-397-30015-8), hardback
1994, US, David R. Godine, Publisher (ISBN 978-1-56792-420-6), paperback
1995, UK, ISIS Audio Books (ISBN 1-85695-974-0) audiobook cassette (unabridged)
1999, UK, Jonathan Cape (ISBN 0-224-60631-X) hardback
2001, UK, Red Fox Classics (ISBN 0-09-950391-3) paperback
2001, UK, Red Fox (ISBN 0-09-942733-8) paperback
2005, UK, Gabriel Woolf (ISBN 0-9550529-0-4) audiobook CD
2010, US, David R. Godine, Publisher (ISBN 978-1567924206) paperback revised edition

Other books in the series

Film, TV, radio and theatrical adaptations

1936 Radio adaptation in which the BBC broadcast Swallows and Amazons as a "dialogue story" in five weekly episodes during The Children's Hour on the BBC National Programme

1947 Radio adaptation into fifteen episodes and read during Children's Hour on the BBC Home Service from 9 October 1947 to 22 January 1948

1963 TV adaptation produced by the BBC

1974 film version Swallows and Amazons 

2016 film version  Swallows and Amazons 

1999 BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio adaptation.

The Royal National Theatre developed a musical version of Swallows and Amazons in 2007.