Swallows and Amazons

Swallows and Amazons is a series of children's books by English author Arthur Ransome, named after the title of the first book in the series. The 12 books involve adventures by groups of children during school vacations, mostly in England and Scotland, between the two World Wars. The stories revolve around outdoor activities, especially sailing.

Related Topics:
Arthur Ransome - England - Scotland - World War

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The series remains popular today for its idyllic, yet often realistic, depiction of childhood and the interplay between youthful imagination and reality. It is part of the basis for a large tourist industry in the Lake District and Norfolk Broads areas of England, where many of the books are set.

Related Topics:
Lake District - Norfolk Broads

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The series began with Swallows and Amazons, published in 1930. It told the story of the Walker children, who sail a dinghy named Swallow, and the Blackett children, who sail a dinghy named Amazon. The Walkers are staying at a farm near a lake during the school holidays; the Blacketts live in a house nearby. The children meet on an island on the lake, and have a series of adventures that weave imaginative tales of pirates and exploration into everyday life in rural England in the 1930s.

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