Entertainment
 

1930

From Arthur Ransome Wiki

1929 redirects here. For the Journal of the Arthur Ransome Club, see 1929 (journal).

1929 or 1930 is the year in which Swallows and Amazons is set.

Contents

[edit] 1929 or 1930?

In discussing the chronology the works of Arthur Ransome, it is difficult to get very far without coming to some convention about this date paradox. It is therefore suggested, for the purpose of convenience, that it be assumed that the events described in Swallows and Amazons occurred in 1930.

[edit] Possible source of the date paradox

· · —

This article or section contains conjecture.
  • the Swallows and Amazons made a mistake drafting their treaty of offence and defence for their Alliance
  • the Swallows and the Amazons made a mistake on Kanchenjunga while adding their names to the inscription hidden in the cairn
  • in Arthur Ransome's fictional world the year 1930 does not exist
  • Arthur Ransome made a mistake

The above list is in order of likelihood. Plumping for 1930 allows critics and scholars like us to conclude that in "1929" the Swallows and Amazons were a year younger, therefore more prone to error and that the writer intended a neat 30-year gap between the climbing of the Matterhorn and Kanchenjunga.

[edit] Events in 1930

[edit] events in August 1930

Described in Swallows and Amazons:

24 July: The Walkers arrive at Holly Howe -...came a fortnight before to stay for part of the school holidays and until it was time to pack up and go home... (SA1). That evening they see the island for the first time. (Mother begins making tents soon after they arrive -SA1.

7 Aug: (SA1) The Walkers have arrived at The Lake, and obtain permission to camp on an island from Daddy in Malta, under orders for Hong Kong

8 Aug: (SA2) lent Swallow by the Jacksons, prepare for voyage

9 Aug: (SA3-5) voyage to and camp on the island

10 Aug: (SA6) meet the Dixons, sight the Houseboat and her owner

11 Aug: (SA7) pearl-diving, fishing, shark sighted

12 Aug: (SA8) witness attack on Houseboat, sight Amazon and try to follow her; fist shaken at Swallows by houseboat man

13 Aug: (SA9-12) meet and enter Treaty of Offence and Defence (confusingly dated "August 1929") with the Amazons and against Captain Flint, construct leading lights

14 Aug: (SA13-14) Meet charcoal burners, receive message for and leter from Captain Flint

15 Aug: (SA15-17) John visits Captain Flint and is rebuffed; Vicky's second birthday celebrated; attack plotted on Amazons

16 Aug: (SA17-21) A fair wind for attack on Amazon; Titty marooned as lighthouse keeper, meets Man Friday; Amazons outwit Swallows at river mouth, Swallows discover Octopus Lagoon; night sailing in Swallow ends in nearly being duffers before mooring for the night; Titty captures Amazon and hears real pirates; white flag hoisted by Amazons

17 Aug: (SA22-23) Amazons concede defeat, learn of threat to houseboat

18 Aug: (SA24-26) news of houseboat robbery, Police officer Sammy Lewthwaite visits island, Nancy realises mistaken identity of houseboat bomber and tips Captain Flint the Black Spot, who makes peace and declares war; brief search for Captain Flint's trunk) on Cormorant Island

19 Aug: (SA27) Swallows and Amazons defeat Captain Flint in the Battle of Houseboat Bay

20 Aug: (SA28-30) Whaling and treasure hunting; pike caught; treasure found; Polly presented to Titty; night-time storm drenches camp

21 Aug (SA31) Natives help wet campers to strike camp, the Swallows and Amazons meet at Horseshoe Bay for tea, then part

[edit] Events in December 1930

Described in 'Their Own Story':

27 December (TOS1): Swallows, Amazons and Captain Flint are holidaying in the Norfolk Broads on board a wherry, the Polly Ann. They discuss the recently-published book, Swallows and Amazons and propose telling a story of their own.
28 December (TOS2): Mr Duck proposes the name Wild Cat for the schooner in their story, they move Polly Ann to avoid being frozen in, and Titty comes up with the main plot for their story.

[edit] Native events in 1929

  • 1929: A German expedition led by Paul Bauer reached 7,400 m (24,280 ft) on the northeast spur of Kanchenjunga before being turned back by a five-day storm.

[edit] Native events in 1930

  • 1930 December 1: Swallows and Amazons published.
  • 1930: An International Expedition to Kanchenjunga led by George Dyhrenfurth, German Uli Wieland, Austrian Erwin Schneider and Englishman Frank Smythe (who published "The Kangchenjunga Adventure" in the same year). The attempt failed due to poor weather and snow conditions.
Arthur Ransome Timeline

1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |}

Retrieved from "http://arthur-ransome.wikia.com/wiki/1930"