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Swallows and Amazons #10
Missee Lee
The original cast of the famed Swallows and Amazons series is sailing under the stars and the command of Captain Flint in the South China Sea when Gibbet, their pet monkey, grabs the captain’s cigar and drops it in the fuel tank. In minutes, the ship is ablaze (and doomed), and our seven luckless protagonists are adrift in two small boats. They make their way to land, only to find themselves the captives of one of the last remaining pirates operating off the China Coast. But Missee Lee, as it turns out, is no ordinary pirate; her father had sent her off to Cambridge University to prepare her for a life as a teacher. But when her father takes ill and dies, she finds herself struggling to hold together the Three Island Confederation (Tiger, Turtle, and Dragon) he had created, and to be recognized as his legitimate heir and ruler of the Island Kingdom.
Ransome is, as always, the consummate storyteller. Here he takes the reader not only on the usual sailing adventures and cliff-hanging escapades, but also into Chinese culture. (It’s no accident that, like so many of Ransome’s protagonists, Missee Lee is a woman, or that her Latin is almost as refined as her sailing skills.) It is also no wonder that The Observer called this, the tenth book in the series, “his best yet . . . a book to buy, to read, and to read again, not once but many times.” The Guardian put it “in a class by itself.” For Ransome, unlike so many writers of his and our generation, was particular in writing about things he knew and had studied first-hand, whether it was a foreign culture, a classical language, a cryptographic code, or the finer points of seamanship.
Ransome is, as always, the consummate storyteller. Here he takes the reader not only on the usual sailing adventures and cliff-hanging escapades, but also into Chinese culture. (It’s no accident that, like so many of Ransome’s protagonists, Missee Lee is a woman, or that her Latin is almost as refined as her sailing skills.) It is also no wonder that The Observer called this, the tenth book in the series, “his best yet . . . a book to buy, to read, and to read again, not once but many times.” The Guardian put it “in a class by itself.” For Ransome, unlike so many writers of his and our generation, was particular in writing about things he knew and had studied first-hand, whether it was a foreign culture, a classical language, a cryptographic code, or the finer points of seamanship.
349 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1941
26 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Arthur Ransome
285 books277 followersArthur Michell Ransome (January 18, 1884 – June 3, 1967) was an English author and journalist. He was educated in Windermere and Rugby.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
In 1902, Ransome abandoned a chemistry degree to become a publisher's office boy in London. He used this precarious existence to practice writing, producing several minor works before Bohemia in London (1907), a study of London's artistic scene and his first significant book.
An interest in folklore, together with a desire to escape an unhappy first marriage, led Ransome to St. Petersburg, where he was ideally placed to observe and report on the Russian Revolution. He knew many of the leading Bolsheviks, including Lenin, Radek, Trotsky and the latter's secretary, Evgenia Shvelpina. These contacts led to persistent but unproven accusations that he "spied" for both the Bolsheviks and Britain.
Ransome married Evgenia and returned to England in 1924. Settling in the Lake District, he spent the late 1920s as a foreign correspondent and highly-respected angling columnist for the Manchester Guardian, before settling down to write Swallows and Amazons and its successors.
Today Ransome is best known for his Swallows and Amazons series of novels, (1931 - 1947). All remain in print and have been widely translated.
Arthur Ransome died in June 1967 and is buried at Rusland in the Lake District.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
October 13, 2020
"Don't be a tame galoot!"
Down to the 10th book. The old gang is back to another adventure but it seemed more serious than the ones before, and lacking bit of that fun and easy going nature. Though the story is full of adventure, it seems a bit out of the usual style of the series.
"Oh, Giminy, giminy, I wish I could see out."
Down to the 10th book. The old gang is back to another adventure but it seemed more serious than the ones before, and lacking bit of that fun and easy going nature. Though the story is full of adventure, it seems a bit out of the usual style of the series.
"Oh, Giminy, giminy, I wish I could see out."
May 9, 2015
The very last book for us in this series. We left the two sort of more "fictional" books until last: Peter Duck and Missee Lee. We are both very sad to say goodbye to the Swallows and the Amazons, who have been our friends in the car (audio books) for 15 months now, as we have listened to each 10-12 CD book. But the fact that this was our least favorite helps make the goodbye a little less painful. Logan said the books with more realistic scenarios were more believable and so more fun. He could imagine himself there. But not so much with this book. Also, I didn't like the stereotyping of the Chinese. I wish Ransome had stuck with adventures closer to home. I'm sure at some point, we'll go back and listen to our favorite books in the series, but for now we will be moving on to other authors. Thanks Mr. Ransome! It's been a fun year+ with you!
December 5, 2018
Sadly, this is the one Swallows and Amazons that is too dated to be read with any pleasure today. Dated in its racism and cliched views of Asia. The story is constructed with Ransome's usual expertise and our heroes' capture by and escape from pirates is well told. Ransome brings his nautical knowledge to bear expertly in the parts of the tale that take place at sea. But the rest of it is rendered unbearable by its portrayal of the Chinese.
The book should be retired from the series.
The book should be retired from the series.
December 21, 2018
What nonsense this book should be retired as one poor reviewer has concluded! I have been an avid Swallows and Amazons fan all my life and I am 50 now. So has all my family, right back to my mother and her sisters getting their copies as presents when first they were written. I first read Missee Lee 39 years ago and of all the series it has stuck with me. It's a departure like Peter Duck but to me I like to think it comes from the depths of Titty's imagination. A fabulous tale with the characters beautifully coming to life in this strange setting to them. My favourite will always be Winter Holiday and the magical race to the North Pole, but I pick up Missee Lee most often, as I have done this holiday in Mauritius and looked out from my sun bed to sea and imaged the Wild Cat just over the horizon. Brilliant Ransome.
December 3, 2015
Another riveting adventure with the Swallows and Amazons (and Captain Flint) as they stumble across three Chinese islands after their ship sinks. There they meet "Missee" Lee and the other two leaders: Chang and Wu. Highly entertaining as you follow John, Susan, Titty, Roger, Nancy, Peggy, and Captain Flint as they stumble upon this strange world. Miss Lee, their new ally, although good at heart wants to keep them so they can learn Latin to remind her of her school days in Cambridge.
But through a Dragon feast and other wild adventures the Swallows and Amazons are adamant that they will return home. An entertaining read for youth, but teens and adults will also enjoy it.
But through a Dragon feast and other wild adventures the Swallows and Amazons are adamant that they will return home. An entertaining read for youth, but teens and adults will also enjoy it.
December 12, 2019
The Swallows, Amazons, and Captain Flint are off on a worldwide sailing adventure when an accident off the coast of China leads to an encounter with a very unusual pirate. Impulsive behavior by Gibber the monkey and Roger Walker is both believable and very handy as a plot device. While all the books in this series are of their time with comments about “natives”, this particular book often made uncomfortable reading due to outdated stereotypes about Chinese culture which distracted from an otherwise creative story. 2.5 stars
November 12, 2023
ma hindan "Swallows and Amazons" sarja eelkõige just nende lugude maaläheduse ja realistlikkuse pärast, nii et natuke pika hambaga võtsin ette ühe neist kahest raamatust, mis on selgelt laste endi fantaasia, mitte n-ö päriselt juhtunud lood (esimene oli "Peter Duck", kus lastekamp käis Kariibi mere saarel aardejahil, ja siin "Missee Lees" seilavad nad kuskil Hiina rannikul ja elavad seal üle laevahuku). tavaliselt nad purjetavad ikka Lake Districti järvedel või äärmisel juhul Inglismaa lõunarannikul, ja piraate peab neile mängima teine paatkond lapsi.
nojah, siin siis juhtubki hoopis nii, et laev läheb põlema ja päästepaatidega triivitakse sülle otseteed kurikuulsale Hiina mereröövlile Missee Leele. siiamaani üsna ettearvatav, aga seda, mis edasi saab, poleks küll elus oodanud - preili Lee on oma vähemmetsikus nooruses Inglismaal õppinud ja natukeseks isegi Cambridge'i ülikooli välja jõudnud, ja oh tema rõõmu, kui nüüd on käepärast tervelt seitse vangi (pluss ahvike pluss papagoi), kellele saab hommikust õhtuni ladina keele tunde anda.
vangid (neli Walkerite last, kaks Blackettite tütart ja ainsa täiskasvanuna kaasas olev onu Jim) suhtuvad sellesse projekti erineva entusiasmitasemega, aga eks nad muidugi kõik sõidaks parema meelega merd kui et käänaks verbe ja loeks Virgiliust. isegi Roger, kes on selle loo täielik must hobune, sest kes oleks võinud arvata või kuidas isegi on loogiline, et tema osutub kogu kambast kõige akadeemilisemaks tüübiks ja saab Missee Lee staarõpilaseks?
nii et vääramatul moel tüürib kogu see lugu ikkagi põgenemise ja kojupurjetamise poole, aga see, kuidas selleni välja jõutakse, ei ole ka kuigi ettearvatav. nii et päris meelelahutuslik lugemine.
eks on kurdetud selle üle, et tänapäeval see lugu enam päris poliitkorrektne ei tundu ja et vaeseid hiinlasi stereotüpiseeritakse siin hirmsal kombel ja et nende aktsendiga inglise keele üleskirjutamine ei ole ikka väga sobilik. aga ma ei tea, minu meelest siin kellegi kohta halvasti otseselt ei öeldud ja liiga ei tehtud, ja miks ma peaks arvama, et need piraadid eeskujulikku BBC inglise keelt rääkisid?
rohkem muidugi oleks tahtnud kuulda, kuidas see hiina mereröövlitütre Inglismaa akadeemiline karjäär ikkagi edenes ja kas teda seal kolmekümnendate Cambridge'is tõesti nii avasüli vastu oleks võetud. aga meenutame, et kogu see lugu ei juhtunud isegi omaenda fiktsionaalses maailmas päriselt, nii et las ta jääb :)
nojah, siin siis juhtubki hoopis nii, et laev läheb põlema ja päästepaatidega triivitakse sülle otseteed kurikuulsale Hiina mereröövlile Missee Leele. siiamaani üsna ettearvatav, aga seda, mis edasi saab, poleks küll elus oodanud - preili Lee on oma vähemmetsikus nooruses Inglismaal õppinud ja natukeseks isegi Cambridge'i ülikooli välja jõudnud, ja oh tema rõõmu, kui nüüd on käepärast tervelt seitse vangi (pluss ahvike pluss papagoi), kellele saab hommikust õhtuni ladina keele tunde anda.
vangid (neli Walkerite last, kaks Blackettite tütart ja ainsa täiskasvanuna kaasas olev onu Jim) suhtuvad sellesse projekti erineva entusiasmitasemega, aga eks nad muidugi kõik sõidaks parema meelega merd kui et käänaks verbe ja loeks Virgiliust. isegi Roger, kes on selle loo täielik must hobune, sest kes oleks võinud arvata või kuidas isegi on loogiline, et tema osutub kogu kambast kõige akadeemilisemaks tüübiks ja saab Missee Lee staarõpilaseks?
nii et vääramatul moel tüürib kogu see lugu ikkagi põgenemise ja kojupurjetamise poole, aga see, kuidas selleni välja jõutakse, ei ole ka kuigi ettearvatav. nii et päris meelelahutuslik lugemine.
eks on kurdetud selle üle, et tänapäeval see lugu enam päris poliitkorrektne ei tundu ja et vaeseid hiinlasi stereotüpiseeritakse siin hirmsal kombel ja et nende aktsendiga inglise keele üleskirjutamine ei ole ikka väga sobilik. aga ma ei tea, minu meelest siin kellegi kohta halvasti otseselt ei öeldud ja liiga ei tehtud, ja miks ma peaks arvama, et need piraadid eeskujulikku BBC inglise keelt rääkisid?
rohkem muidugi oleks tahtnud kuulda, kuidas see hiina mereröövlitütre Inglismaa akadeemiline karjäär ikkagi edenes ja kas teda seal kolmekümnendate Cambridge'is tõesti nii avasüli vastu oleks võetud. aga meenutame, et kogu see lugu ei juhtunud isegi omaenda fiktsionaalses maailmas päriselt, nii et las ta jääb :)
February 14, 2023
I've put off reading this book (and Peter Duck) for many years; the fantasy of battling pirates on the South China Sea was never as compelling to me as the fantasy of lazy summer holidays in the Lake District. Now I've finally read it, it's both better and worse than I expected. The sharp characterisation of middle-class British children of the 1930s is as good as ever - especially Roger's inability to shut up for more than five minutes - and the ending was unexpected and satisfying; but, on the negative side, the terrible faux-pidgin English that all the Chinese characters speak is the worst example of the Speekee Engrish trope I've ever seen, and even extends to the book's title. I suppose that it at least makes you notice how little racism Ransome really included in the other books in the series, especially at a time when contemporaneous writers such as Enid Blyton apparently couldn't help but fill their stories with xenophobia.
November 20, 2019
Interesting, not my favorite, but once you get to a certain part, you do get into it.
January 2, 2020
Not my favorite Swallows book but I just adore the characters and their personalities
February 12, 2025
A lot of reviewers don't think much of this book, regarding it as fictional narrative invented by Titty or something. Personally I don't see any grounds for not thinking it is a real adventure, and personally I regard it as one of the best books in the series. Maybe that is partly just because it stands out from all the rest of the series and is much more memorable than many of the other titles where you can't really remember what the plots are about. There's just something about the atmosphere of this book that I find quite gripping.
Arthur Ransome in quite a remarkable writer really. Technically speaking I shouldn't like him that much - I'm not interested in sailing or camping and most of his books are about subjects which don't appeal to me generally. His stories are generally quite sedate, as is his manner of telling them. He writes simply and calmly and leisurely in very plain language. And yet somehow he managed to produce books which keep one captivated. They have an atmosphere which I love. They do draw you in and I find them quite compelling, in a gentle sort of way.
Lots of reviews accuse the book of racism but I don't see anything offensive or derogatory about the Chinese in here so I don't know what people are making a fuss about. Stereotypes aren't offensive in and of themselves, it's the intentions behind them which matter. I don't see any intentions here of degrading the Chinese or advocating white supremacy. Maybe people who think Oxford is better than Cambridge might be offended, but as most of us have no preferences on that score Missee Lee's opinion is as valid as anybody's.
Arthur Ransome in quite a remarkable writer really. Technically speaking I shouldn't like him that much - I'm not interested in sailing or camping and most of his books are about subjects which don't appeal to me generally. His stories are generally quite sedate, as is his manner of telling them. He writes simply and calmly and leisurely in very plain language. And yet somehow he managed to produce books which keep one captivated. They have an atmosphere which I love. They do draw you in and I find them quite compelling, in a gentle sort of way.
Lots of reviews accuse the book of racism but I don't see anything offensive or derogatory about the Chinese in here so I don't know what people are making a fuss about. Stereotypes aren't offensive in and of themselves, it's the intentions behind them which matter. I don't see any intentions here of degrading the Chinese or advocating white supremacy. Maybe people who think Oxford is better than Cambridge might be offended, but as most of us have no preferences on that score Missee Lee's opinion is as valid as anybody's.
December 9, 2021
Number 10 in the Swallows and Amazons books. This one has all the Swallows and Amazon characters (hooray) but kind of seems to sit outside the realistic stories and is more of a made-up adventure like Peter Duck.
The story is quite exciting with the cast getting split up and stranded on a Chinese pirate colony where they meet a female pirate (Missee Lee) who insists on teaching them Latin and from which they struggle to escape. There are some sailing sections which are enthralling, some funny parts often involving the parrot and the monkey, and their means of escape is quite ingenious.
What is more problematic is the portrayal of the Chinese characters, which seems outdated at best, and at points really very racist. All of the Chinese dialogue is written to be read out loud in a way that is racist and if you are reading it to a child you might want to just ignore all of that really I would suggest.
Also, there did seem to me to be quite a large section in the middle where the Swallows and Amazons were captured, had met Missee Lee and were doing Latin Lessons, where not a lot happened and things dragged on a bit. It did all pick up again at the end but I don't remember this being a similar problem in some of the earlier books.
In summary then for me an enjoyable book, with some problematic elements that a parent might want to edit out if reading to their children, but not as good as some of the earlier Swallows and Amazons stories.
The story is quite exciting with the cast getting split up and stranded on a Chinese pirate colony where they meet a female pirate (Missee Lee) who insists on teaching them Latin and from which they struggle to escape. There are some sailing sections which are enthralling, some funny parts often involving the parrot and the monkey, and their means of escape is quite ingenious.
What is more problematic is the portrayal of the Chinese characters, which seems outdated at best, and at points really very racist. All of the Chinese dialogue is written to be read out loud in a way that is racist and if you are reading it to a child you might want to just ignore all of that really I would suggest.
Also, there did seem to me to be quite a large section in the middle where the Swallows and Amazons were captured, had met Missee Lee and were doing Latin Lessons, where not a lot happened and things dragged on a bit. It did all pick up again at the end but I don't remember this being a similar problem in some of the earlier books.
In summary then for me an enjoyable book, with some problematic elements that a parent might want to edit out if reading to their children, but not as good as some of the earlier Swallows and Amazons stories.
September 21, 2021
This is by far the most problematic of the Swallows and Amazon's stories I have read to date. But also, one of the best adventures.
It is another fantastical tale like Peter Duck which could easily be the imaginings of Titty or Dorothea. Chinese pirates, Latin grammer and a daring dragon filled escape. The plot is brilliant. As is the scene setting. And female characterisation and leading roles are there as ever. This is a really vivid tale. So good right?
But this book is very much set in an era. And this era has horrendous stereotyping of Asian characters, apparently. There were comments about food, smells, facial expressions whixb made me cringe. But the fake Chinese accent throughout had me just about ready to not finish. But I did. And I'm glad I did.
We cannot judge books from the past with our modern standards. Even if they do make us cringe now. That said, if I was reading this one to a child, I'd definitely have conversations about why this isn't ok, and probably edit some of the text in my telling!
It is another fantastical tale like Peter Duck which could easily be the imaginings of Titty or Dorothea. Chinese pirates, Latin grammer and a daring dragon filled escape. The plot is brilliant. As is the scene setting. And female characterisation and leading roles are there as ever. This is a really vivid tale. So good right?
But this book is very much set in an era. And this era has horrendous stereotyping of Asian characters, apparently. There were comments about food, smells, facial expressions whixb made me cringe. But the fake Chinese accent throughout had me just about ready to not finish. But I did. And I'm glad I did.
We cannot judge books from the past with our modern standards. Even if they do make us cringe now. That said, if I was reading this one to a child, I'd definitely have conversations about why this isn't ok, and probably edit some of the text in my telling!
January 17, 2014
Much the worst of the series. I really am struggling for a satisfying read when even Arthur Ransome lets me down. Still, the sailing parts are quite gripping. The children having, and making their own adventures work beautifully. Using the children as characters in adventure stories don't work. Missing out this one and Peter Duck wouldn't hurt.
Read
June 19, 2017Many years since I read this. Don't think it was ever one of my favourites among the Swallows and Amazons books: but these seem to have faded for me more generally, alas.
May 20, 2017
The tenth Swallows and Amazons book had a premise that felt a little far-fetched.
In the first few chapters, the Swallows and Captain Flint end of stranded, after their ship the Wild Cat, which featured in previous books, burns. The following chapter switches to the Amazons, who are (as I understood it) boarded by Chinese pirates and kidnapped, making one attempt to escape, only to be recaptured.
Soon after the Pirates capture the Swallows and Captain Flint, and all seven of them are apparently taken to China, being told they are being taken to Miss Lee, who is apparently their leader. When they finally meet Miss Lee, she apparently wants them as friends, although she also wants to tutor them. However, she won't let them leave the island where she lives.
It was a bit of a strange idea for a plot, and certainly different from some of the previous novels that were set in and around the British mainland, but most of it was enjoyable, as the storyline led towards the "Dragon Festival", which I guessed was a real tradition (part of Chinese New Year, perhaps?); Miss Lee was an interesting character, although I didn't completely understand her motives. It was also good to have all the original characters back after their absence in "The Big Six".
However, I had one big problem with this book...
It was incredibly racist.
I wasn't too surprised at the racism because this book was originally published in 1941, when people were a lot less politically correct, and it manifests itself in the awful way in which all the Chinese characters are stereotyped, not least in the way they appear in the illustrations, but the fact that they were portrayed as speaking English very, very badly. Literally, everything the Chinese characters said was full of this sort of stuff that would never be acceptable in a book nowadays.
So, overall I thought this book was okay; it did have an exciting climax, and it was easy to follow, but the constant racism throughout the whole story was very shocking and so this has to be one of my least favourite titles in the Swallows and Amazons series.
In the first few chapters, the Swallows and Captain Flint end of stranded, after their ship the Wild Cat, which featured in previous books, burns. The following chapter switches to the Amazons, who are (as I understood it) boarded by Chinese pirates and kidnapped, making one attempt to escape, only to be recaptured.
Soon after the Pirates capture the Swallows and Captain Flint, and all seven of them are apparently taken to China, being told they are being taken to Miss Lee, who is apparently their leader. When they finally meet Miss Lee, she apparently wants them as friends, although she also wants to tutor them. However, she won't let them leave the island where she lives.
It was a bit of a strange idea for a plot, and certainly different from some of the previous novels that were set in and around the British mainland, but most of it was enjoyable, as the storyline led towards the "Dragon Festival", which I guessed was a real tradition (part of Chinese New Year, perhaps?); Miss Lee was an interesting character, although I didn't completely understand her motives. It was also good to have all the original characters back after their absence in "The Big Six".
However, I had one big problem with this book...
It was incredibly racist.
I wasn't too surprised at the racism because this book was originally published in 1941, when people were a lot less politically correct, and it manifests itself in the awful way in which all the Chinese characters are stereotyped, not least in the way they appear in the illustrations, but the fact that they were portrayed as speaking English very, very badly. Literally, everything the Chinese characters said was full of this sort of stuff that would never be acceptable in a book nowadays.
So, overall I thought this book was okay; it did have an exciting climax, and it was easy to follow, but the constant racism throughout the whole story was very shocking and so this has to be one of my least favourite titles in the Swallows and Amazons series.
May 19, 2021
A Swallows and Amazons adventure that hasn't aged well. The usual heroes (Nancy, Peggy, John, Susan, Titty and Roger) are sailing the Wild Cat around the world with Captain Flint when they are shipwrecked and captured by Chinese pirates led by a Cambridge-educated wannabe Latin teacher called Missee Lee.
As an adventure story it is full of drama from the shipwreck at the start to the thrilling escape at the end. But the ever-present threat of decapitation is rather weakened (perhaps necessarily so for a children's story) by the repeated failure of the children, especially Nancy, to take it seriously.
Nowadays the main objection will be to the stereotypical portrayal of the Chinese characters (not one of them can pronounce the letter 'r') although each of the principal villains is a rounded character: I loved Chang the bird-fancier and the grumpy Amah. There is some consolation in that although Susan is the ultimate stereotypical girl (a housewife in the making) both Nancy and Missee Lee are very strong females.
And it has a very colonialist assumption. It was written in 1941.
This book, along with Peter Duck, are fantasy yarns which don't really belong in the S&A canon proper and could easily be omitted.
Regular readers of my reviews will know how I detest foreign languages being used without translation; it seems boastful as if you are saying to your readers 'I can understand this, can't you?'. A key plot point revolves around a Latin verse which is untranslated: 'His liber est meus, testis est deus si quis foretur per collum pendetur' which I think means 'This book is mine: as God is my witness whoever should steal it will be hanged by the neck.' Furthermore, one of the Chinese characters speaks pidgin and repeatedly uses the phrase 'speakee English bimeby' which had me flummoxed untiol a google search suggested that 'bimeby' might mean 'bye and bye' so the translation would be something in the region of 'you will be able to speak English to someone soon'.
As an adventure story it is full of drama from the shipwreck at the start to the thrilling escape at the end. But the ever-present threat of decapitation is rather weakened (perhaps necessarily so for a children's story) by the repeated failure of the children, especially Nancy, to take it seriously.
Nowadays the main objection will be to the stereotypical portrayal of the Chinese characters (not one of them can pronounce the letter 'r') although each of the principal villains is a rounded character: I loved Chang the bird-fancier and the grumpy Amah. There is some consolation in that although Susan is the ultimate stereotypical girl (a housewife in the making) both Nancy and Missee Lee are very strong females.
And it has a very colonialist assumption. It was written in 1941.
This book, along with Peter Duck, are fantasy yarns which don't really belong in the S&A canon proper and could easily be omitted.
Regular readers of my reviews will know how I detest foreign languages being used without translation; it seems boastful as if you are saying to your readers 'I can understand this, can't you?'. A key plot point revolves around a Latin verse which is untranslated: 'His liber est meus, testis est deus si quis foretur per collum pendetur' which I think means 'This book is mine: as God is my witness whoever should steal it will be hanged by the neck.' Furthermore, one of the Chinese characters speaks pidgin and repeatedly uses the phrase 'speakee English bimeby' which had me flummoxed untiol a google search suggested that 'bimeby' might mean 'bye and bye' so the translation would be something in the region of 'you will be able to speak English to someone soon'.
August 22, 2023
Like "Peter Duck" in the Swallows & Amazon series, this is supposed to be a story that the kids made up, along with the Amazons' Uncle Jim ("Captain Flint"). But it's told as if it really happened, the only real indication that it didn't really happen in the Swallows & Amazons universe being the improbability of parents letting their six children set off on a round-the-world trip on a small sailing schooner with one adult.
The book is highly enjoyable, with a number of plot twists and tension as well as good humor and very real characters. Shortly after sailing their schooner out of their 100th port, probably in Malaysia, the crew has disaster strike, and they end up the prisoners of a Chinese pirate queen, Miss (or Missee) Lee. She's an intriguing character in her own right, but I won't give away the details.
These books were originally published in the 1930s and are now being brought out as ebooks. This one had been skipped by the ebook publisher, due to its stereotyped depiction of the Chinese (some might even consider it racist). Other than the annoying way the author made every R into an L when Chinese characters spoke, it's actually not bad, as the Chinese characters are all strong, some indeed noble.
The ebook I read (with the Penguin cover though it's not a Penguin edition) was sloppily formatted and lacks Ransome's charming illustrations, but the story is all there. And you get a sense of how the English thought of China a century ago.
The book is highly enjoyable, with a number of plot twists and tension as well as good humor and very real characters. Shortly after sailing their schooner out of their 100th port, probably in Malaysia, the crew has disaster strike, and they end up the prisoners of a Chinese pirate queen, Miss (or Missee) Lee. She's an intriguing character in her own right, but I won't give away the details.
These books were originally published in the 1930s and are now being brought out as ebooks. This one had been skipped by the ebook publisher, due to its stereotyped depiction of the Chinese (some might even consider it racist). Other than the annoying way the author made every R into an L when Chinese characters spoke, it's actually not bad, as the Chinese characters are all strong, some indeed noble.
The ebook I read (with the Penguin cover though it's not a Penguin edition) was sloppily formatted and lacks Ransome's charming illustrations, but the story is all there. And you get a sense of how the English thought of China a century ago.
March 11, 2020
My final book of the series re-read. I'm never really sure if i like this one or not. Is it a fantasy (like Peter Duck) or is it a real round-the-world trip in the Wildcat?
Things i like: all the Swallows & Amazons together with Captain Flint.
Things i don't like: actually not that much. The character of Missie Lee is annoying. The monkey, Gibber... I'd gladly have wrung his neck way before he did what he did. Titty lugging the parrot around in the cage just enrages me. But mostly what i hate now, and i hated when i read it as a kid, is the awful awful racist way they are made to speak. (I'm talking about the Chinese characters).
And yes, i know it is "of its time" but i am still allowed, as i was then, to find it awfully racist.
As a child reader of the series the way Susan, Peggy and Titty did most of the admin and "women's work" got on my nerves too. But then I've always been a little bit Nancy.
One final thing. Nancy. I just love love love how she sticks to that name. Because her given name is Ruth. And she's a pirate. And pirates are Ruthless.
And can i say
Things i like: all the Swallows & Amazons together with Captain Flint.
Things i don't like: actually not that much. The character of Missie Lee is annoying. The monkey, Gibber... I'd gladly have wrung his neck way before he did what he did. Titty lugging the parrot around in the cage just enrages me. But mostly what i hate now, and i hated when i read it as a kid, is the awful awful racist way they are made to speak. (I'm talking about the Chinese characters).
And yes, i know it is "of its time" but i am still allowed, as i was then, to find it awfully racist.
As a child reader of the series the way Susan, Peggy and Titty did most of the admin and "women's work" got on my nerves too. But then I've always been a little bit Nancy.
One final thing. Nancy. I just love love love how she sticks to that name. Because her given name is Ruth. And she's a pirate. And pirates are Ruthless.
And can i say
April 26, 2021
Definitely gripping. Another of those 'meta books' that is not part of the flow (like Peter Duck: A Treasure Hunt in the Caribbees) but written as a fiction using the same characters, almost as if one of the kids had made it up. It's an odd idea, and makes the other books in the series seem more real as these two are more fictional. There is lots of casual racism in this one, which feels odd to a modern listener.
One thing I have been tracking through this series is whether anything comes back to me from Mum reading them too me as a child. I am starting to wonder if she did. I've now dredged out a memory of me reading one at lights-out time, so perhaps it was me reading them. Who knows, and sadly she's not around to ask now. In this book it was the strangest thing that came back to me: the cormorant fisherman. It's a tiny scene but I remember it clearly.
One thing I have been tracking through this series is whether anything comes back to me from Mum reading them too me as a child. I am starting to wonder if she did. I've now dredged out a memory of me reading one at lights-out time, so perhaps it was me reading them. Who knows, and sadly she's not around to ask now. In this book it was the strangest thing that came back to me: the cormorant fisherman. It's a tiny scene but I remember it clearly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2020
Missee Lee is the tenth book in the Swallows and Amazons series, and like Peter Duck, it is a deviation from the normal progression of the series. Whereas most of the time, Ransome’s characters have real-world adventures, this story is based on their imaginings about sailing to China. In this story, Captain Flint takes Nancy, Peggy, John, Susan, Titty, and Roger with him in the Wild Cat on a voyage around the world.
Gibber the monkey accidentally sets the ship on fire, and when they finally escape in Swallow and Amazon, Captain Flint and his crew mistakenly wash up on the shore among Chinese pirates who inhabit the Three Islands. Captain Flint is immediately held for ransom, and the kids are also treated as prisoners. It is only when Miss Lee, the most powerful taicoon on the Three Islands, takes them in as her students that they see any hope of ever escaping and making it home to England once more.
Gibber the monkey accidentally sets the ship on fire, and when they finally escape in Swallow and Amazon, Captain Flint and his crew mistakenly wash up on the shore among Chinese pirates who inhabit the Three Islands. Captain Flint is immediately held for ransom, and the kids are also treated as prisoners. It is only when Miss Lee, the most powerful taicoon on the Three Islands, takes them in as her students that they see any hope of ever escaping and making it home to England once more.
January 15, 2020
It's quite a good adventure yarn, but definitely of its time. Its depiction of the Chinese community and characters leans very heavily on stereotypes, although there are some elements that are richer and seem to be drawn on real experience. Arthur Ransome was clearly more thoughtful about his representations of cultures (and class) than many other childrens' authors, but that only really makes it slightly less problematic. I found myself 'editing' quite a bit as I read it to my daughter. I was glad that what appeared to be a final twist came with a further twist that seems to back down from the idea that what any foreigner who aspires to better themselves would naturally want to become British.
November 8, 2024
I’m glad and relieved to be done with this book. I almost quit reading it about halfway through, mostly because I was tired of the Chinese accent that Ransome gave to any and all English-speaking Chinese characters. It was difficult and awkward reading and became quite tiresome. Finally, I just started skimming over the dialogue until it got into more descriptive text, and there were more conversations among the children alone.
Not the best in the series — in fact it was by far my least favorite. I read that The next book (The Picts and Martyrs) gets back to the original formula. I’m looking forward to that.
Not the best in the series — in fact it was by far my least favorite. I read that The next book (The Picts and Martyrs) gets back to the original formula. I’m looking forward to that.
April 1, 2025
The gang is back and readers find them sailing with Captain Flint in the South China Seas. When their boat burns and they find themselves splitting up to escape in the Swallows and Amazon they have no idea of the adventures ahead for them when they are captured by a Cambridge educated pirate by the name of Missee Lee.
Fans of the first book will appreciate having all the characters back together. Unfortunately, the plot is problematic with its stereotypical portrayal of Chinese and English characters. The adventure is enthralling though, especially the Dragon Festival and its aftermath.
Fans of the first book will appreciate having all the characters back together. Unfortunately, the plot is problematic with its stereotypical portrayal of Chinese and English characters. The adventure is enthralling though, especially the Dragon Festival and its aftermath.
December 17, 2024
One of the adventure stories purportedly written BY the children instead of ABOUT them, though that doesn't come out in the text except in one small spot. Captain Flint is petty foolish in this one. They all get into some really serious trouble and their lives are at risk, but they also end up with an unlikely ally. It just goes to show, one never knows when knowing some Latin could save one's life.
December 26, 2024
The stereotypes are a bit frustrating, but there’s respect there too: it feels like Ransome does know something about Chinese culture, as well as the dangers that the British posed to this community. The adventures of the children are amazing as always - I do wonder what their parents and teachers would say about the kind of things they got up to, and I’d love to know how they turned out as adults after these experiences!
October 2, 2018
Growing up the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome was one of my favorite series. When I decided to re-read it as an adult I was worried that it would not stand the test of time. I was delighted to find that in general found it just as enjoyable now as I did as a child. The characters, writing style and adventures are great and I truly enjoyed the series.
October 3, 2020
I think I would give this one 3 stars, but the kid loved it. This story felt a bit like a filler story for me... the dialogue is definitely old fashioned (I'm not going to use the R word)... but since I am reading it outloud, I just left out the accented dialogue and read it normally. She was none the wiser.
September 14, 2020
This is a Tall Story, which is why I’ve only read it twice. Still a very good story, though, even if completely unlikely, and with the same familiar characters, which is why I had to reread it for the second, or maybe third time. Exciting ending.
October 13, 2020
And with that I finish the Swallows and Amazons series. (Ok so I might have skipped the Big Six and a few others but I couldn't do it any longer sorry John, Susan, Titty, Roger, Nancy, Peggy and the rest, as much as I love you - and I do- I just need a break from holidays it's making me jealous.)
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