How did Arthur Ransome come to write Swallows and Amazons, transforming himself from literary critic to foreign correspondent, witnessing and reporting on revolutions in both Russia and China to a celebrated novelist read by children and adults alike? This was Ransome expert Kirsty Findlay’s subject in her August address to us. She spoke about the transformations of Ransome: from young Bohemian in Paris and London and literary critic, to foreign correspondent, to his decision to write something totally different.
The story of how Kirsty brought Ransome’s lost critical study of Robert Louis Stevenson to publication in 2011 remains to be told on another day.
She showed us images of a tiny notebook found stored in his trunk, written by Ransome aged eight. It contains an adventure story derivative of Treasure Island, showing his early engagement with storytelling and adventure. The 2000-word document provides insight into how deeply he had absorbed Stevenson and testifies to his exceptional early talent. It was written during an extended period of illness when he complained of running out of books to read.
His mother suggested he write his own story!
He wrote a wide range of books including critical studies of Edgar Allen Poe and Oscar Wilde,
also on sailing, fishing, Russian folk tales and more. He first went to Russia in 1913 to write a history of St Petersburg and observed the revolution at close quarters – he even shared a flat in Moscow with the Bolshevik chief of propaganda. He was well placed to report extensively on the Russian revolution for the Daily News (UK.) and frequently brought the British government information of the greatest value – his MI6 code name was S76. In contrast, he was also detained and questioned by MI5 on suspicion of treason, trying to explain why he opposed Allied intervention in the Russian civil war. After smuggling Trotsky’s personal secretary out of Russia by sailing across the Baltic and later marrying her, he returned to England to become a Manchester Guardian essayist and finally risked giving up journalism to create his much-loved novel for all ages, Swallows and Amazons, and its successors. A great and complex man.
The South Wairarapa Rebus Club meets at 9:45am on the fourth Friday of each month at the South Wairarapa Working Men’s Club in Greytown. The club prides itself on the quality of its guest speakers and reviews of previous talks can be found in newsletters on the club’s website. Retirees are invited to attend a meeting as a visitor. Introduce yourself at the door from the West Street carpark, or contact John Reeve on 021 560 461 for more information.
