‘Owl Hoot’, was one item, ‘wisle’ (sic) another. Underneath, I’d noted down the skills I would need to acquire before playing the part of Titty. Kaye Webb, the editor, had written an introduction saying, ‘This book is about sailing, fishing, swimming, camping, and piratical exploits.’ She wanted to make it available to children, thinking that discovering Swallows and Amazons ‘for the first time must be as exciting as a Christmas morning.’ I must have re-read this copy when busy preparing for filming the 1974 movie financed by EMI. It is a 1970’s edition in which I’d underlined everything Titty said. I dug out the Puffin paperback of Swallows and Amazons my father gave me when I was a girl and read avidly, along with other books in the series, by the time I was eleven years-old. ~Captain Flint hanging Christmas decorations around his houseboat on a card made from a Puffin book cover~

I have just been sent this homemade card from someone who came to the premier of the original film in 1974, when I was fortunate enough to play Able seaman Titty. 'About this title' may belong to another edition of this title.The school term is over, ‘Swallows and Amazons’ is on BBC iPlayer and Christmas missives are arriving in the post. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine Let's hope that BBC Audiobooks plans to produce the entire series. Listening, we lose ourselves in the golden days. Jennings's pace quickens when the sailboat battles occur and relaxes when the children collapse around the fire. The many characters are distinct individuals-from the Australian mom to a neighboring farm wife to serious older siblings and the head-over-heels enthusiastic younger kids. It is a literate book full of magic for children and adults, which Jennings's reading amplifies. Published in 1930, Swallows and Amazons is about six children who sail, camp, and find timeless adventure during a holiday in England's Lake District.

His shaded character portrayals and enthusiastic narration make it clear that he loves the book. Alex Jennings performs this beloved classic of English children's literature in splendid fashion.

Swallows and amazons first edition