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.

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The series was originally released on 30 June, but subsequently withdrawn pending the correction of a number of minor errors.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

Update on E-book Publication

We have been advised by Random House Children’s books that they have discovered a few minor problems with the Swallows and Amazons series e-books released on 30 June.

As a result they are temporarily withdrawing the books from sale. Retailers, such as Amazon and ibooks, will be updating their websites accordingly. This will take a little time, but should be done by tomorrow (Saturday).

RHCB expect to issue corrected versions next week. In the meantime they offer sincere apologies for any disapppointment caused.

Swallows and Amazons E-books Now Available

Arthur Ransome’s twelve Swallows and Amazons novels were released in e-pub format by Random House Children’s Books on 30 June.

The novels should now be available from a wide range of e-book retailers, as well as via Random House’s e-book website.

Swallows and Amazons Series Scheduled for E-Publication

Random House Children’s Books will publish electronic editions of Arthur Ransome’s twelve Swallows and Amazons novels for the first time at the end of June, 2011.

Forthcoming publication was first announced by Random House in early May. Subject to their final confirmation, publication of all twelve illustrated novels is currently scheduled for 30 June.

You can find out more about Random House’s e-publications, and view their online catalogue, at Random House’s e-book website. We anticipate that information about the the twelve Swallows and Amazons titles will be added in the near future.

Happy Birthday, Nancy Blackett

On Sunday 12 September 2010, the Nancy Blackett Trust will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of Arthur Ransome’s purchase of his second yacht, the seven ton Hillyard cutter Electron. Ransome renamed  her Nancy Blackett in recognition of his best-known fictional character, the leader of the Amazon Pirates.

Ransome kept Nancy Blackett at Pin Mill, on the River Orwell, where she soon inspired the plot for his seventh Swallows and Amazons novel, We Didn’t Mean to go to Sea, published in 1937. He later described her as “the best little ship I ever had.”