Unabridged Swallows and Amazons Sets Sail

Swallows and Amazons, Swallowdale, Peter Duck, Winter Holiday and Coot Club have now been released as unabridged audiobooks by Audible.co.uk. The remaining seven novels, all read by Gareth Armstrong, will follow over the next three months.

Announcing the release, Audible’s director, Laurence Howell said: “Swallows and Amazons is children’s storytelling at its finest. We are thrilled to bring these stories to life for a new generation. We very much hope that families up and down the country set sail on their own imaginative voyages – no dinghy required!”

Preparing for a Voyage of Discovery

It’s “all aboard” from tomorrow morning, Thursday 30 May, for this year’s Coniston Regatta.

We’re bringing a small Voyages of Discovery display about Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons and the Trust, and we’re looking forward to a great regatta at Bank Ground Farm (“Holly Howe” in Swallows and Amazons), both on land and on the water.

Swallows and Amazons Series Audiobooks

Good news for those who enjoy listening to Arthur Ransome, as Audible.co.uk prepare to release unabridged audiobooks of all twelve Swallows and Amazons series novels.

Recording is currently underway, with the first three novels due for release within the next few weeks. The remainder should be released in three tranches over the following three months. The books will be narrated by Gareth Armstrong, who has previously narrated a wide range books, including works by Neville Shute and Philippa Gregory.

Swallows and Amazons Musical Book Published

The opening of Swallows and Amazons at the Vaudeville, also marks the publication of  Helen Edmundson’s theatrical adaptation of Arthur Ransome’s classic novel.

The theatre book is available to buy from the publisher, Nick Hern Books’s website, and should also be in stock or available to order from all good bookshops soon. ISBN: 9781848422377, Price: £9.99.

E-books Available Once More

Further to our last update, the twelve Swallows and Amazons e-books are now back on sale.

Swallows and Amazons E-books Will Soon be Back

We have been advised by Random House Children’s books that the twelve Swallows and Amazons series e-books will be back on sale in the next few days.

The series was originally released on 30 June, but subsequently withdrawn pending the correction of a number of minor errors.

Random House advise that the books should be available by this Friday, 28 October, but it may take a few more days before they are listed by online retailers.

Summer Events Season Concludes with Arthur Ransome’s Maps

Our Camp Fires series of talks and events concluded last night with Imagination and Reality: Arthur Ransome’s Maps, a joint Royal Geographical Society, Brantwood Trust and Arthur Ransome Trust event.

Heavy rain and local flooding sadly meant that a number of people were forced to cancel, but some 25 went on the lake expedition, courtesy of Coniston Launch. Others were able to join them for the seminar that followed at Brantwood.

The Secret Waters of Arthur Ransome’s Life

Our Camp Fires series of talks and events continued last night, when Roland Chambers gave a well-informed personal interpretation of Arthur Ransome’s fascinating and complex life.

You can read a review of the event here.