In the spring of 1929 therefore he presented a synopsis and 50 pages of Swallows and Amazons to his publishers, Jonathan Cape, who were enthusiastic about him continuing. After the Altounyan’s departure at the end of the summer holidays, Ransome decided to write an adventure story loosely based on the exploits of the children and their time on the lake. The two families bought a couple of dinghies, named Swallow and Mavis (later renamed Amazon), and Ransome elected to teach the five children to sail. It all began in 1928 when Ransome and his wife Evgenia met up with their friends, the Altounyan family, who were staying with their Collingwood grandparents at Coniston in the Lake District. However Ransome’s delightful evocation of a wonderful summer of adventure, discovery and friendship is as fresh and compelling today as it ever was.
“This is a story of two families of children, with a couple of sailing boats, on a lake.” These words are written on the front flap of the first edition of Swallows and Amazons, and scarcely seem the stuff to enthrall readers over the decades.
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