Winter Holiday

By Arthur Ransome

For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, Arthur Ransome's classic Swallows and Amazons series stands alone. Originally published in the UK over a half century ago, these books are still eagerly read by children, despite their length and their decidedly British protagonists. We attribute their success to two facts: first, Ransome is a great storyteller and, second, he clearly writes from first-hand experience. Independence and initiative are qualities any child can understand and every volume in this collection celebrates these virtues..

The fourth book in Arthur Ransome's classic series for children, Winter Holiday, takes intrepid explorers John, Susan, Titty, and Roger Walker, and fearsome Amazon pirates Nancy and Peggy Blackett to the North Pole. Joined by budding novelist Dorethes Callum and her scientist brother Dick, the children plan an "Arctic" expedition. But unforseen events seperate the travelers and disaster nearly strikes in the exciting climax of their race to the Pole.

• Language: English
• Publisher: David R. Godine, Publisher
• Release date: Jan 1, 1988
• ISBN: 9781567925005

Reviews for Winter Holiday

[simchaboston · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good fun, though I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous Swallows and Amazons books. Maybe this is the fuddy-duddy grown-up in me talking, but I didn't care for how self-involved the children were at times (which, no matter how caught up they were in Nancy's mission, still seemed a bit of a stretch). And the new characters Dick and Dorothea kept rubbing me the wrong way, especially with how oblivious and reckless they behaved near the end of the story. It was nice to see the crew in a winter setting, though, and I applaud the spirit of self-reliance and adventure that runs throughout this entire series.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps my favorite of the Swallows and Amazons series. Dick is the person I can truly identify with - Dorothea (which I always want to shorten to Dot, but they don't seem to) is a bit too - airy-minded? She's always going off into stories, worse than Titty. But Dick is always aware of (some part of) his surroundings - though his focus is sometimes not quite where it ought to be. Nice dealing with getting to know one another - and it's interesting to get that from the D's view, rather than the children we already know from the previous books. And then, the emotional line in this book is perhaps the most active - hopes and despair following one after the other, over and over. The planned adventure is good - what actually happens is, as Nancy said, much better - much (much!) more exciting. And right on the edge of disaster, over and over - but never quite going over. It would be interesting (though painful) to see the same events from the grownup point of view - we just get the comment from Captain Flint (or rather, Uncle Jim) about calling off the search parties.

[bostonian71 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good fun, though I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous Swallows and Amazons books. Maybe this is the fuddy-duddy grown-up in me talking, but I didn't care for how self-involved the children were at times (which, no matter how caught up they were in Nancy's mission, still seemed a bit of a stretch). And the new characters Dick and Dorothea kept rubbing me the wrong way, especially with how oblivious and reckless they behaved near the end of the story. It was nice to see the crew in a winter setting, though, and I applaud the spirit of self-reliance and adventure that runs throughout this entire series.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was prompted to venture down memory lane following a conversation with one of my colleagues after he had taken his daughter to see the new ‘Swallows and Amazons’ film, and what a jot it proved. I loved the Swallows and Amazon books forty odd years ago and was a little worried that the intervening years might have eroded my capacity to enjoy the book with the same fervour as before. This has, after all, happened with several books that I have revisited after several years.It was, however, a delightful experience. The book is beautifully written, and is a paean to imagination: not just the writer’s feat of imagination in conjuring up such a heartening story, but the joy of children’s imagination, with all the young characters delighting in creating alternative fantasy explanations for the world around them.The Swallows fond themselves back in the Lake District where they have been despatched to stay with the Jackson family for the last few weeks before they return to school while their mother has taken their baby sister Bridget out to visit their father who, as a naval officer, is currently based in Malta. Reunited with Nancy and Peggy, the Amazons, who live among the Lakes, they plan an expedition to find the North Pole. Meanwhile they encounter Dorothea and Dick Callum, who have also been sent to spend a few weeks away from home while their scholarly parents fulfil some academic commitments. Ransome’s handling of the meeting is beautifully done, viewed from the Callums’ perspective and capturing the simultaneous yearning to belong and a desire to remain aloof. Was Ransome harking back to a golden age of childhood largely of his own imagining? Possibly, though I remember my own school holidays being spent rambling miles away from home, climbing trees, playing in streams and clambering over farm equipment, though rather than exploring the seven seas our games tended to be re-enactments of the Second World War (with particular reference to the Lofoten Raid for reason I cannot now explain).Beautifully written and illustrated, this book remains a treasure. I think I might try Pigeon Post soon, too.

[desislc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favorite of the series. The worst part was that fearless leader Nancy (my favorite character) was mostly out of the picture due to mumps. The best part was the race at the end to the North Pole and the fantastic surprise awaiting them. Lots of fun to read!

[harveybiggins · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent yarn set in the arctic wastes of lake district, when mumps extend school holidays, and allow chance for a crack at the north pole.

[jedisluzer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think this is one of the Top 3 Ransome books. The first appearance of the D's, a trek to the North Pole, and an exciting ending!

[lirmac-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's always unnerving when new characters are introduced to a series; thankfully there is nothing to worry about here. This S&A take on arctic exploration is a joy from beginning to end; it is the equal of the first two books and perhaps slightly better than the third.