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We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Swallows And Amazons, 7)

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Can't go far wrong with soup and steak ... You never know what you get when you try something with a fancy name." (Ch 23) After they meet Father, Susan reminds her dad to send the telegram to Mother and she also makes sure that the telegram is sent.

In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book. Four siblings go on an accidental adventure when they’re swept across the sea—all the way to Holland—in this entry from the classic children’s series. In this latest adventure, the Walker family goes to Harwich to wait for Commander Walker's return. As usual, the children can't stay away from boats, and this time they meet young Jim Brading, skipper of the well-found sloop Goblin. But fun turns to high drama when the anchor drags, and the four young sailors find themselves drifting out to sea - sweeping across to Holland in the midst of a full gale!At night, the Goblin rolls violently. The children are worried but Jim assures them it is the big ship that goes from England to Holland everyday. It is a very well-paced book, a good build up and then plenty of excitement through the most adventurous parts. It was nail-biting stuff the first time I read it! Will they survive? Will they get home? What will their mother say?! It is a real adventure, not pretending adventures in the Lake District (which is the basis of the other books), but actual danger and a huge sea that they have to deal with all on their own.

If you cannot open a .mobi file on your mobile device, please use .epub with an appropriate eReader. As per usual the children are caring of one another, cautiously brave, competent young sailing explorers, and inventive. The Walker children's father finally makes more than a cameo appearance. The relationship of father to children is a comforting one filled with mutual respect that adds a more complete dimension to the memorable Walker family. Jim has an accident when he leaves the children and goes to get petrol. When he wakes up he is very worried about the children. He leaves the hospital to go find them even though his head is still in pain. He feels sorry to about what happens and he intends to apologise to Mrs. Walker.

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When the children are out at the sea, the rain starts to fall. Big winds and waves crash over the bows and splash on the cabin roof and the children. Although John feels tired and the weather is not helping him, he does not stop fighting against the storm. He tries his hardest to steer the yacht to the right direction. He wants to keep his siblings safe.

Jim is knowledgeable about the yacht and the sea. He shows the children how to steer the yacht. He tells them the shoal can be dangerous for them as they could run ashore. He also shows them the shoals using charts.Reading this now it's really very difficult to shut up the "it's PC Gone Mad" inner Daily Mail reader in you: these days Mrs Walker would have the Police after Jim for being a potential child-snatching paedophile, they would have been arrested for stealing the boat and as suspected illegal immigrants on arrival in Holland, and again on their re-arrival in England. There's the animal smuggling charge to be levelled against them too. The children would probably sue Jim for damages for the trauma they have suffered during the unwanted voyage. Literary scholar Peter Hunt said he believes the series "... changed British literature, affected a whole generation's view of holidays, helped to create the national image of the English Lake District and added Arthur Ransome's name to the select list of classic British children's authors". Sure, the 50’s [CORRECTION: 30’s] weren’t all beer and skittles, but, hey, it’s childrens’ fiction! And it’s really nice to envelop yourself for a time in a tale intended for young people largely free of angst, psychological trauma or dystopia. It’s undemanding, genteel and charming. And, for a 54 year old, enduring and refreshing. Ransome’s illustrations add a naive, slightly lumpy thing which just draws me in. It’s like he’s done with a blank piece of paper and ink what the Walker children do with holidays and a lake and a boat - get out there and see what happens! 3 cheers for his publishers - all those years ago - for not going with a trained illustrator! The boat that inspired children's author Arthur Ransome to write what many consider to be his best story is celebrating her 90th birthday on the River Orwell.

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