The Picts and the Martyrs

 

Number eleven in the Swallows and Amazons series, and this one is an old favourite. The Picts and the Martyrs brings together an unlikely combination of the Blackett sisters and the younger Callums, and pushes both sets of siblings firmly out of their respective comfort zones. When judgmental Great-Aunt Maria arrives uninvited during Mrs Blackett's absence, Nancy and Peggy decide to protect their mother by acting as the perfect nieces -- which means white frocks, piano practice, reading aloud and best manners. Meanwhile the sheltered Ds have to retreat to a hut in the woods where they try their best to live as independently as possible.

It reminded me of watching Alone, seeing Dot and Dick valiantly stopping up holes in the roof with moss, cooking over an open fire, slinging their hammocks over beams and even tickling for trout in the stream. One episode which has stayed with me vividly over the years is poor Dot bravely skinning and cooking a rabbit -- there is no way I would attempt that now, let alone as an eleven or twelve year old! There is a lot of fun to be had here, with Nancy dolefully mowing 'No go' on the lawn; the postman, the doctor and others roped into the secret; Timothy being blamed for the burglary of Captain Flint's study (so tense! with Dick hiding in the armadillo hutch); and the horror of the Great-Aunt throwing all the mine samples overboard. It's a wonderful win-win ending when the Ds and the Great-Aunt are brought together at last.

I do love the Walkers but The Picts and the Martyrs doesn't suffer from their absence at all. This is one volume I'm happy to return to.