Reading Series Fiction Series fiction has been largely neglected in histories of children’s literature. Reading Series Fiction argues that it has played an enormous part in forming the reading habits of twentieth-century children and should be seen as central to what we think of as children’s literature. This book claims a place for children’s reading choices and argues that good writing for children needs to be understood and championed. It includes critical studies of: • the Swallows and Amazons series • Enid Blyton • The Borrowers series • the Green Knowe series • the Cricklepit Combined School series. At a time when the development of children’s reading is once again being highlighted, this book will appeal to anyone with an interest in children’s literature and helping children get the most out of their reading. Victor Watson is Assistant Director of Research at Homerton College, Cambridge. He has co-edited a number of books on children’s literature, including Where Texts and Children Meet for Routledge, and is currently editing the forthcoming Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books. Reading Series Fiction From Arthur Ransome to Gene Kemp Victor Watson London and New York First published 2000 by RoutledgeFalmer 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by RoutledgeFalmer 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2001. RoutledgeFalmer is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group © 2000 Victor Watson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Watson, Victor Reading series fiction: from Arthur Ransome to Gene Kemp / Victor Watson. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Children’s stories, English – History and criticism. 2. Children’s literature in series – History and criticism. 3. Ransome, Arthur, 1884–1967 – Criticism and interpretation. 4. English fiction – 20th century – History and criticism. 5. Kemp, Gene – Criticism and interpretation. 6. Children – Books and reading. I. Title. PR830.C513 W38 2000 823.009´9282—dc21 99–042235 ISBN 0 415 22701 1 (hb) 0 415 22702 X (pb) ISBN 0-203-18620-6 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-18743-1 (Glassbook Format) My thanks are due to a boy in Year 6 at Stapleford Primary School, Cambridgeshire, who, while talking to me about series fiction several years ago, explained that starting a new novel was like going into a room full of strangers, but starting a book in a familiar series was like going into a room full of friends. I have no record of his name, but he provided me with the starting-point for this book and the title of my Introduction. Contents List of illustrations ix Acknowledgements x Introduction: a room full of friends 1 PART I Innocence aboard: Swallows and Amazons 11 1 A fellowship of innocence 13 2 The storm before the calm 33 3 Nancy Blackett – champion of goodness 52 PART II Series galore 71 4 Camping and tramping fiction, 1920–1960 73 5 The great Nanny-Narrator and the children of the War 84 6 Malcolm Saville: the price paid 101 PART III Fantasy 117 7 The Borrowers: brief encounters and a little air 119 v i ii Contents 8 Watching passionately: Lucy Boston and the Green Knowe series 135 9 The sun inside the window, shining out: The Dark Is Rising quintet 153 PART IV In and out of school 171 10 Jane Austen has gone missing 173 11 The various voices of Gene Kemp 190 Conclusion: an invisible excellence 205 Notes 214 Index 225 Illustrations 1 From Coot Club 30 2 From Coot Club 30 3 From Secret Water 46 4 From Secret Water 47 5 Endpaper illustration by Joan Kiddell-Monroe for The Cruise of the Maiden Castle by David Severn 79 6 Illustration by Bertram Prance, from Seven White Gates 105