Coot Club by Arthur Ransome

The 1934 novel, Coot Club, is the fifth book, of twelve, written by Arthur Ransome in the Swallows and Amazons children series. The Coot Club is a continuation of the story line first established in Swallows and Amazons several years before, although there are some differences which arguably makes the novel more interesting to those who have read other books in the series.

The first major difference in the Coot Club compared to the previous books is a change of focus on the main characters. Previously, the central characters had been the Swallows (the Walker children) and the Amazons (the Blacketts); this time, the focus is on the Ds, Dick and Dorothea (Dot) Callum, characters introduced in the previous book, Winter Holiday.

Coot Club - Jonathan Cape edition - CC-BY-SA-3.0

A change in setting also occurs in Coot Club, with the Ds being found in the Norfolk Broads where they are staying with Mrs Barrable. The other children are on holiday elsewhere with their families. The Ds have a plan to learn to sail in order that they can impress the Swallows and Amazons the next time they meet.

This plan would eventually see the Ds team up with the Coot Club; a club consisting of Tom Dudgeon; Nell and Bess Farland, known as Port and Starboard; and Joe, Bill and Pete, also known as the Death and Glories). The Coot Club themselves though have problems as they try and protect a bird nesting site from the Hullabaloos, noisy holidaymakers. There is of course a return to a sailing theme, something which was absent in the previous book, with action taking part on the small yacht Teasel, and the motor cruiser Margoletta.

Coot Club is part of a series, but is equally as successful as a stand alone novel.

Swallows and Amazons - wwoods - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Arthur Ransome continues to make use of his knowledge of sailing, combined with a good knowledge of the Norfolk Broads, providing accurate descriptions of the activities undertaken by the Ds and the Coot Club. Indeed the depiction of the Norfolk Broads is even more accurate than the made up elements of the Lake District which is present in other novels.

At about 350 pages, Coot Club is relatively long for a children’s book, although Ransome’s work is more often read by teenagers than younger children. The details on offer and the sophisticated style of writing though can be challenging for inexperienced readers, but this often makes it more satisfying when the book is completed. As with other novels by Arthur Ransome, Coot Club remains a firm favourite for children and adults even after eighty years of being in print.

Copyright - First Published 14th February 2012