Ransome

Arthur Mitchell Ransome was born on January 18th, 1884, at 6, Ash Grove, Headingley, Leeds.

Arthur Ransome was inspired to write his wholesome, waterborne children’s adventure series after spending a summer with the Altounyan family on Coniston shoreline.

Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons series of books are loved by young and old alike.

The 12 books in the Swallows and Amazons series have been translated into 18 languages.

Coniston has been used as one of the filming locations. In 1974, the film Swallows and Amazons was released, which was largely filmed in the Lake District.

Ransome spent part of his childhood near Windermere on holiday and at school.

He learned to sail on both Windermere and Coniston and later in life lived nearby with his wife.

In 1948, he and his wife bought Lowick Hall, a grade II* listed Georgian house and estate, where he wrote his autobiography.

He spent his last years in the Rusland Valley, about 15 miles from Lothlorien in Kents Bank.

His grave and that of his Russian-born wife Evgenia, are in the churchyard of St Paul’s Rusland.

He first gained a reputation as a War Correspondent for the Daily News and his reporting of the 1917 Russian Revolution. He knew many of the Revolutionary Leaders and played chess with them.

His chess set, desk favourite books, and other items can be seen in a special room at the Abbot Hall Museum in Kendal.

He married Evgenia Shelapina, Trotsky’s secretary, and returned to England in 1925 to live at Low Ludderburn in the Winster Valley, where he started writing Swallows and Amazons in 1929.

Arthur Ransome Society

The Arthur Ransome Society, founded in June 1990, is based at Abbot Hall and aims to celebrate his life, promote his works, and disseminate the ideas of Arthur Ransome.

It has just under a thousand members across the world.

It seeks to children to engage in adventurous pursuits and educate the public about Ransome and his work.

Interestingly, there is an active Arthur Ransome Club of Japan that has contributed generously to the restoration of the sailing dinghy Mavis, which is the model for the AMAZON. The boat is on display at the Windermere Steamboat Museum.

Where to Stay

If you would like to book a holiday cottage within easy access to the area Arthur Ransome loved, enquire and book here.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1) Who was Arthur Ransome?

Arthur Ransome was an English author and journalist, best known for the Swallows and Amazons series of children’s books, which brought to life the spirit of holiday adventure in the English countryside.

2) What inspired Arthur Ransome to write the Swallows and Amazons books?

Ransome was inspired by his childhood holidays in the Lake District and his lifelong love of sailing and outdoor adventures, which he reflected in his stories of children exploring lakes and islands.

3) Did Arthur Ransome write other books besides Swallows and Amazons?

Yes, in addition to twelve Swallows and Amazons novels, Ransome wrote biographies, essays, collections of folk tales, and numerous articles for newspapers. His work covered topics from literature to fishing to international politics.

4) What awards did Arthur Ransome receive for his writing?

Arthur Ransome won the inaugural Carnegie Medal for children’s literature in 1936 for his book Pigeon Post, part of the Swallows and Amazons series. He was also appointed a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1953.

5. Where did Arthur Ransome live and travel during his lifetime?

Ransome was born in Leeds and spent time living in the Lake District, London, and abroad. He reported from Russia during the Revolution, travelled widely in Europe, and eventually settled in the Lake District, where he wrote many of his famous books