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  • Published: 4 November 2011
  • ISBN: 9781446478899
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 384

Swallows and Amazons




The ultimate children's classic - long summer days filled with adventure. Newly re-issued using Ransome's original illustrations to celebrate the 80th anniversary of publication.

The ultimate children's classic - long summer days filled with adventure.

John, Susan, Titty and Roger sail their boat, Swallow, to a deserted island for a summer camping trip. Exploring and playing sailors is an adventure in itself but the island holds more excitement in store. Two fierce Amazon pirates, Nancy and Peggy, challenge them to war and a summer of battles and alliances ensues.

'My childhood simply would not have been the same without this book. It created a whole world to explore, one that lasted long in the imagination after the final page had been read' - Marcus Sedgwick

  • Published: 4 November 2011
  • ISBN: 9781446478899
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 384

About the author

Arthur Ransome

Arthur Ransome was born in Leeds in 1884 and went to school at Rugby. He was in Russia in 1917, and witnessed the Revolution, which he reported for the Manchester Guardian.

After escaping to Scandinavia, he settled in the Lake District with his Russian wife where, in 1929, he wrote Swallows and Amazons. And so began a writing career which has produced some of the real children's treasures of all time. In 1936 he won the first ever Carnegie Medal for his book, Pigeon Post.

Ransome died in 1967. He and his wife Evgenia lie buried in the churchyard of St Paul's Church, Rusland, in the southern Lake District.

Also by Arthur Ransome

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Praise for Swallows and Amazons

Thrilling not only to young readers fond of the sea, but also to older readers who remember how they enjoyed sea stories when they themselves were young

Scotsman

All the thrills of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe

Daily Telegraph

Enchanting and escapist

Sunday Express

I absolutely loved this book as a boy…. The simple line drawings were just wonderful; they gave the feeling of wide open spaces and freedom.

Tony Ross

My childhood simply would not have been the same without this book. It created a whole world to explore, one that lasted long in the imagination after the final page had been read

Markus Sedgwick

The very stuff of play

The Guardian

All the thrills of Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe

Daily Telegraph

Enchanting and escapist

Sunday Express

I absolutely loved this book as a boy…. The simple line drawings were just wonderful; they gave the feeling of wide open spaces and freedom.

Tony Ross

My childhood simply would not have been the same without this book. It created a whole world to explore, one that lasted long in the imagination after the final page had been read

Marcus Sedgwick

The very stuff of play

Guardian

There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating

Times Literary Supplement

Thrilling not only to young readers fond of the sea, but also to older readers who remember how they enjoyed sea stories when they themselves were young

Scotsman