The Life of Arthur Ransome

by Hugh Brogan

The Life of Arthur Ransome

Genres: Biography

1 pages, Hardcover

First published January 18, 1984

About the author

Hugh Brogan was a British historian and biographer. He earned a history degree from St John’s College, Cambridge in 1959 and was a fellow there from 1964 until 1974. He was a professor at the University of Essex from 1992 until his retirement in 1998.

Reviews

[Will Ansbacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea the author of the Swallows and Amazons books I loved when I was young had led such a fascinating life, and one so seemingly far removed from messing about in boats. Ransome was a reporter (although that wasn't his career choice) and one of the few to provide a first-hand account of the Russian revolution. He was at times asked to spy for England, and because of his close connections with Trotsky and Lenin, a suspected double agent as well.
There was something very unsettled about his life; although he wanted to be a writer he was never apparently a very good one, and he became a successful children's writer almost by accident.
Brogan's book itself is long and detailed but a bit unsatisfying, although much of that may be due to his subject matter. I think he left a lot unsaid - Ransome's apparent dislike of children in general, his feuds with his friends and daughter are not really mentioned - but perhaps that is just as well.

[Peter Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long and thorough life of the famous children’s author told with insight and affection -and what a life.Who would have thought that the creator of the Lake District children’s books -the“ Swallows and Amazons” series - had such a life? A love of books and writing,fishing and later sailing,an optimistic nature,and hard work saw him involved in journalism,criticism,travel until he fell in love with Russia and its people.WW 1 and the Revolution then consumed him.He knew and talked to all the leaders- Lenin,Kerensky,Trotsky,Radek but makes no reference to Stalin-as he worked to relay news back to English press.His fatal flaw was a romantic nature who at times misunderstood the true nature of Bolshevism but in such confusing and dramatic days who can blame him.He acted as an occasional go between for the Bolsheviks and the British but was never,I think,a spy although both sides were unsure.What an amazing and confusing time!His love of the Lakes in England and a chance friendship with neighbours and their children from Syria saw him write a novel for them to remember the fun they had sailing and hence his famous creation was born.His fame and fortune followed.The biography also details his wives,the erratic fantasist Ivy and his later love the Russian Evgenia.A fascinating story all round.Hugh Brogan clearly admired Ransome but has a clear eye and notes his occasional self deception and mistakes and so creates a well rounded biography-affectionate but true(as far as anyone can understand another).

[Fred Langridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this biography, with its very clear affection for the subject and his foibles.

[Grant Turnage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is interested in Ransome needs to read this book-it's one of the best biographies I've ever read.