Nancy Blackett. Under Sail with Arthur Ransome

Publisher: Jonathan Cape, 1993 in paperback £ 8.99

One learns more about the background and character of Arthur Ransome from this delightfully written account than from his autobiography. The author - a founder of the lively Arthur Ransome Society - tells the saga of the rescue from dereliction of "AR"'s "best little boat", and of her rebuilding and restoration. He relates some of the actual incidents and talks of personalities which found their way into the books which so many of us grew up with, including many appropriate illustrations taken from them. Photographs supplement AR's own drawings.

A good read for children of all ages. It includes a comprehensive index. -JFP