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
The Children Act (novel) The Children Act (novel) The Children Act is a novel by the English writer Ian McEwan, published on 2 September 2014. The title is a reference to the Children Act 1989, a UK Act of Parliament. It has been compared to Charles Dickens' "Bleak House", with its similar settings, and opening lines. Fiona Maye is a respected High Court Judge specializing in Family Law and living in Gray's Inn Square. While reviewing a case, she is approached by her husband, Jack, who tells her that because of their lack of physical intimacy he would like to embark on a sexual