Peter Duck
Why do they call him Black Jake? Is it because of his hair?' Titty asked.
'Because of his heart' said Peter Duck.
The Swallows and Amazons, as well as Captain Flint and the ancient able seaman Peter Duck, set sail on the Wild Cat bound for the Channel. But they are shadowed by the Viper, manned by none other than Black Jake - a beastly pirate with a dark plan. Can the children race ahead and uncover the buried treasure before the pirate? Can they survive storms, earthquakes, crabs and even a waterspout and make it home?
About the Swallows and Amazons Series
Books in series order
- 1.Swallows and Amazons(1930)
- 2.Swallowdale(1931)
- 3.Peter Duck(1932)
- 4.Winter Holiday(1933)
- 5.Coot Club(1934)
- 6.Pigeon Post(1936)
- 7.We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea(1937)
- 8.Secret Water(1939)
- 9.The Big Six(1940)
- 10.Missee Lee(1941)
- 11.The Picts and the Martyrs(1943)
- 12.Great Northern?(1947)
Reading age: 9+ years
This series should be read in order.
John, Susan, Titty and Roger Walker sail their boat, 'Swallow,' to a deserted island for a summer camping trip. Exploring and playing sailors is an adventure in itself but the island holds more excitement in store. Two fierce pirates from the boat 'Amazon,' Nancy and Peggy, challenge the Walker children to war and a summer of battles and alliances ensues.
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. 'Swallows and Amazons,' the book that started it all in 1930, introduces the Walker family, the camp on Wild Cat Island, the able-bodied catboat 'Swallow,' and the two intrepid Amazons, plucky Nancy and Peggy Blackett. Readers who enjoy Enid Blyton's 'The Famous Five' or 'The Secret Seven' adventures will be entranced by this classic series.