Swallows and Amazons Swallows and Amazons Swallows and Amazons is the first book in the "Swallows and Amazons" series by English author Arthur Ransome; it was first published in 1930, with the action taking place in the summer of 1929 in the Lake District. The book introduces central protagonists John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker (Swallows) and their mother and baby sister (Bridget), as well as Nancy and Peggy Blackett (Amazons) and their uncle Jim, commonly referred to as Captain Flint. At the time, Ransome had been working as a journalist with the "Manchester Guardian", but decided to become a full-time author rather
Swallows and Amazons middle of an English lake is thrilling just because it is not fabulous. […] It is make-believe such as all children have indulged in: even children who have not been so fortunate as to have a lake and a boat and an island but only a backyard amongst the semis of Suburbia." In 1963, the BBC produced an adaptation, "Swallows and Amazons," with John Paul as "Captain Flint" and Susan George as the renamed "Kitty". The series was directed by Peter Saunders. EMI released a version in 1974, directed by Claude Whatham and produced by Richard Pilbrow. The film starred