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

The origins of Paddington Bear

Bears seem to make some of the best fictional characters, and you only have to look as far as Winnie the Pooh and Rupert the Bear for prime examples. There is though another fictional bear that is as loved by many, and that is the one and only Paddington Bear.

In many ways Paddington Bear is singularly English, and yet he has universal appeal, with the stories translated for reading around the world.

Paddington Bear - Chris McKenna - CC-BY-SA-3.0

The origins of Paddington Bear can be traced back to Christmas Eve 1956, when Michael Bond, a BBC cameraman happened upon a lonely bear on the shelf of a shop in London. Bond would buy the bear for his wife, Brenda, and soon it was given the name Paddington; the bear being named for the railway station that was near to their house.

The bear would then become the focus for some short stories written by Bond; stories written for his own amusement rather than for profit. Soon though these stories had evolved into a book; a book which was well received by the publishers, William Collins & Sons.

The marmalade loving bear was now available to the public.

Having come up with the notion of Paddington Bear, Michael Bond also had to come up with the back story or origins of the fictional bear; and many elements to the life story of Paddington Bear were told in the first book, “A Bear called Paddington”.

Paddington was of course famously found on a railway platform at Paddington station, where he was found by Mr and Mrs Brown. With a sign around his neck asking “Please Look After This Bear. Thank You”, it was perhaps only natural that the Browns would take Paddington home to 32 Windsor Gardens to live.

Paddington at Paddington - Democoma - CC-BY-SA-3.0

Over time we find out a lot more about Paddington’s life before his discovery by the Browns though. We find that his name is actually Pastuso and he is an orphan. Paddington was born in Deepest, Darkest Peru were he was raised by his Aunt Lucy. Aunt Lucy though had gone to live in Lima’s Home for Retired Bears, and so it was decided that the best thing for Paddington was to seek out a new life in England. Paddington thus had stowed away on a ship bound for England, living in one of the ship’s lifeboats, and living off of marmalade sandwiches.

Thus it was that one of Britain’s best loved fictional characters came into existence, and fifty years on the sight of a bear dressed in duffle coat and old hat, a marmalade sandwich in one hand and a suitcase in another is enough to make most people crack a smile.

Copyright - First Published 23rd February 2012

The Major Characters of a Study in Scarlet

First published in 1887 a Study in Scarlet was the first of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories. A complete story in its own right, it was also the story that introduced the major characters that would be found in subsequent stories.

Cover of a Study in Scarlet - David Henry Friston - PD-life-70

-Dr Watson

The first of the major characters to appear in a Study in Scarlet is Dr John Watson, an army doctor invalided out of the army, having been injured in the Anglo-Afghan War. Watson is in need of reasonable priced accommodation in London, and it is for this reason that he is introduced to Holmes who is in the same predicament. Watson is recovering for his wounds, but this relative immobility gives the doctor ample time to wonder about his housemate, which ultimately leads to him in joining Holmes at a crime scene.

Watson is quickly identified as being the voice of right and wrong, giving emotion to a tale, where Holmes would be cold and calculating. Watson might not be as smart as Holmes but offers energy instead.

Dr Watson would of course become the chronicler of Holmes’ adventures, as well as his friend, confident and often a co-conspirator.

-Sherlock Holmes

A Study in Scarlet was the work that introduced Sherlock Holmes to the world, and most people will know all about the detective. It is in a Study in Scarlet that the attributes and traits of Holmes were first identified though, traits which changed little in subsequent stories.

Holmes is a Consulting Detective, a man who other detectives and members of the public consult to solve mysteries, often without the need to leave the rooms of 221B Baker Street. Watson identifies him as a many of immense knowledge, but this knowledge is often specialised and selective, knowing the fantastic but ignoring the mundane.

Holmes is a man who does not seek the limelight, willing to let others take the credit, but rejoicing in the knowledge that he has been tested.

-Gregson and Lestrade

A Study in Scarlet centres around two murders in London, so of course the police are involved, and specifically Inspectors Gregson and Lestrade. Holmes would consider Tobias Gregson and G Lestrade to be the best of the capital’s police force, but in this story and in subsequent ones it would become apparent that they were reliant on the skills of Holmes to solve their problems. Both ambitious in their own right, Gregson and Lestrade happily take all of the credit for the solving of the murders in a Study in Scarlet and in their other cases.

The characters above are of course present in other stories, aside from a Study in Scarlet. Other important characters in the book though are central to the story and so even an overview of them is going to give away elements of the story. The below may spoil a Study in Scarlet if you have yet to read it.

-Enoch Drebber and Joseph Stangerson

Drebber was the first murder victim, found dead with the words Rache written in blood beside him. Subsequently Joseph Stangerson is also found dead in similar circumstances. Both were Mormons and had come from America together. Both were though hardly upstanding members of society.
-John Ferrier and Lucy Ferrier

The Ferriers were father and daughter who had been rescued by the Mormons in Utah, and adopted into the religion. John Ferrier has been given land and made a success of it. Lucy would fall in love with a stranger, a non-Mormon which would prove to have dramatic repercussions.

-Jefferson Hope

Jefferson Hope and Lucy Ferrier were in love, but the Mormons could not allow the marriage, and there forced separation would also see Hope travel to England, where he would become the central character of a Study in Scarlet.

When a Study in Scarlet was written it wasn’t certain that there would be further novels in which Sherlock Holmes would serve, this story therefore does much to establish the characteristics of Holmes and Watson especially. It also means that it is the one Sherlock Holmes story that has to be read to ensure that the others make perfect sense.

Copyright - First Published 10th November 2011