Missee Lee

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First Publication

Published by Jonathan Cape in December, 1941.

Availability

In print.

Hardback: Jonathan Cape ISBN978-0224606400

Paperback: Red Fox ISBN 978-0099427254

E-book: Random House Children’s Books (from 30 June, 2011)

Also available as an abridged audiobook (Gabriel Woolf)

Background

Missee Lee is a sequel to Peter Duck, a story imagined by its own characters. It is set in China, making good use of Ransome’s first-hand knowledge of that country, gathered whilst reporting there for the Manchester Guardian in 1927. During his visit Ransome had met Madame Sun Yat-Sen, on whom he partly based Missee Lee’s character.

Synopsis

Shipwrecked off China, the Swallows, Amazons and Captain Flint find themselves at the mercy of real pirates, whose first rule is to never take English prisoners alive. But their leader, the tiny, pistol-carrying Missee Lee, has a different and surprising fate for them in mind.