1930 or 1931?Edit

In discussing the chronology the works of Arthur Ransome, it is difficult to get very far without coming to some convention about the 1929-1930-1931 paradox caused by the discrepancy in dates between the signing of the treaty of offence and defence, dated "1929", and the inscription in the cairn on [[Kanchenjunga, dated "1931". It is therefore suggested, for the purpose of convenience, on Arthur Ransome Wiki that it be assumed that the events described in Swallows and Amazons occurred in 1929 and that the events described in Swallowdale occurred in 1930.

The source of the date paradox is that Arthur Ransome made a mistake. He acknowledged this and considered having the dates changed by his publisher, so that "1931" and "1901" printed in Swallowdale on the Kanchenjunga inscription would be altered to "1930" and "1900". The events surrounding this are described in Wayne Hammond's bibliography of Ransome^[1]

Events in 1930Edit

• January: Swallows, Amazons and Captain Flint are possibly still on a winter holiday composing Peter Duck; for full details see December 1930^{might have been}
• Summer; described in Swallowdale: The Swallows return to the Lake. The Amazons are constrained by Native trouble as their Great Aunt Maria is saying with them at Beckfoot. Swallow is shipwrecked and her crew camp in a hidden valley in the hills above Horseshoe Bay. After their ship is repaired they challenge Amazon to a race.
• Summer; When Mr Farland asks about their sailing plans for Teasel, Tom says (CC15):

Oulton, Beccles, Norwich .... All over the place, like we did when you took us last summer.

• At school during the year: John and Susan got their swimming life saving certificates (SW2).

Native events in 1930Edit

• 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.