Captain Flint
From Arthur Ransome Wiki
- ...forever gallivanting off to foreign ports (Mrs Newby, PP1)
- Velly uncultured man (Miss Lee, ref req
Captain Flint, real name James Turner, is the brother of Molly Blackett and uncle to the Amazons. He is a large and strong man, tending to stoutness, a bachelor who enjoys adventurous travelling often with the aim of finding his fortune by prospecting for minerals. As it happens he gains his largest fortune by writing a very successful memoir of his adventures titled Mixed Moss.
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[edit] Early life
James and Molly were orphaned during their childhood and brought up by their Aunt Maria. Not even the names are known for Grandfather Turner or Grandmother Turner.
[edit] older or younger?
The books are not explicit as to which of Molly or Jim is younger. The Billies refer to the pair as Miss Turner she was then... [and]...Master Jim (SA13). In the convention of the times, oldest children would retain the title Miss or Master [surname] while subsequent children were called Miss or Master [first name] -- this implies that Molly is the older. In the Japanese translations Jim is described as being the younger brother to Molly Turner. Molly's name appears first in the inscription in the cairn on the Matterhorn.
[edit] Unclehood
Nancy and Peggy call him Uncle Jim and he acts as an indulgent father figure to them, as they are fatherless following the death of Bob Blackett. He joins in their adventures and buys them the Amazon.
[edit] Treachery and the Black Spot
James Turner makes himself an enemy of the Swallows, especially when he suspects them of letting off a firework on the houseboat roof and later when the houseboat is burgled and his manuscript of Mixed Moss is stolen. Titty observes that he must be a retired pirate when the Swallows first see him and his parrot writing his book aboard his houseboat in Swallows and Amazons. When they tell the Amazons that he is a retired pirate, Nancy names him Captain Flint. She tips him the Black Spot deposing him as Uncle.
[edit] Peace, war and defeat
Captain Flint is quickly convinced that the Swallows were innocent and following the Battle of Houseboat Bay he becomes a staunch friend and ally. He gives Polly to Titty when she and Roger find the stolen manuscript on Cormorant Island.
[edit] More treachery?
Although swearing loyalty to the Amazons and Swallows after the Battle, it is interesting to note that Captain Flint falls in league with the natives again. He is notably unavailable for adventure in Swallowdale, Winter Holiday, Pigeon Post and The Picts and the Martyrs. He is only fully present in Peter Duck, Missee Lee and Great Northern? – books which are often considered "fictional" stories within the Swallows and Amazons series.
[edit] Native prototype
Arthur Ransome himself is often believed to be one of the originals of Captain Flint. In 'Their Own Story', Captain Flint is suspected of, and denies, writing Swallows and Amazons.
