This new edition of Racundra’s First Cruise includes the original maps, text and photos from the 1923 first edition, of which only 1500 copies were printed. The book also contains a detailed introduction detailing Ransome’s Baltic sailing in Slug and Kittiwake and includes unpublished articles and essays together with many original Ransome pictures and present day photographs of the area. The manuscript has been researched, edited and introduced by Brian Hammett, who received critical acclaim for his work on Racundra’s Third Cruise. Details of Racundra’s life after Ransome are also included. It has the full support of Ransome’s literary executors who are delighted to see it republished.

The beloved children’s author Arthur Ransome is noted for popularising the pattern for “holiday adventure” stories. A writer of various genres, his first success, ‘Bohemia in London’, is a partly autobiographical account of his early days. He also published a noted general ‘History of Story-Telling’, as well as landmark critical works on Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde. During the Great War, Ransome worked as a war correspondent in Russia, where he studied native folktales, which he retold for children. He also wrote extensively about his passion of angling, producing the seminal work in its field, ‘Rod and Line’. This eBook presents Ransome’s collected works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Ransome’s life and works * Concise introductions to the major works * Rare children’s books, with the original artwork * Many rare texts appearing for the first time in digital publishing * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Rare short stories available in no other collection * Includes Ransome’s rare non-fiction works * Features the celebrated autobiography – discover Ransome’s intriguing life * Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres CONTENTS: Other Children’s Books The Child’s Book of the Seasons (1906) Pond and Stream (1906) The Things in our Garden (1906) The Hoofmarks of the Faun (1911) Old Peter’s Russian Tales (1916) Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme (1920) The Soldier and Death (1922) The Horror Novel The Elixir of Life (1915) The Short Stories Miscellaneous Stories The Non-Fiction The Souls of the Streets and Other Little Papers (1904) Bohemia in London (1907) A History of Story-telling (1909) Edgar Allan Poe (1910) Oscar Wilde (1912) Portraits and Speculations (1913) Six Weeks in Russia (1919) The Crisis in Russia (1921) Racundra’s First Cruise (1923) Rod and Line (1929) Racundra’s Third Cruise (1972) The Autobiography The Autobiography of Arthur Ransome (1976)

The English interwar writer Arthur Ransome, best known for the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ children’s books, is noted for popularising the pattern for “holiday adventure” stories. A writer of various genres, his first success, ‘Bohemia in London’, is a partly autobiographical account of his early days. He also published a noted general ‘History of Story-Telling’, as well as landmark critical works on Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde. During the Great War, Ransome worked as a war correspondent in Russia, where he studied native folktales, which he retold for children. He also wrote extensively about his passion of angling, producing the seminal work in its field, ‘Rod and Line’. For the first time in publishing history, this eBook presents Ransome’s complete fictional works, with numerous illustrations, rare texts, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1) * Beautifully illustrated with images relating to Ransome’s life and works * Concise introductions to the major works * All the ‘Swallows and Amazons’ novels, with individual contents tables * Includes Ransome’s original illustrations to the novels * Many rare texts appearing for the first time in digital publishing * Images of how the books were first published, giving your eReader a taste of the original texts * Excellent formatting of the texts * Rare short stories available in no other collection * Includes Ransome’s rare non-fiction works * Features the celebrated autobiography – discover Ransome’s intriguing life * Ordering of texts into chronological order and genres CONTENTS: The Swallows and Amazons Books Swallows and Amazons (1930) Swallowdale (1931) Peter Duck (1932) Winter Holiday (1933) Coot Club (1934) Pigeon Post (1936) We Didn’t Mean To Go To Sea (1937) Secret Water (1939) The Big Six (1940) Missee Lee (1941) The Picts and the Martyrs (1943) Great Northern? (1947) Other Children’s Books The Child’s Book of the Seasons (1906) Pond and Stream (1906) The Things in our Garden (1906) The Hoofmarks of the Faun (1911) Old Peter’s Russian Tales (1916) Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp in Rhyme (1920) The Soldier and Death (1922) The Horror Novel The Elixir of Life (1915) The Short Stories Miscellaneous Stories The Non-Fiction The Souls of the Streets and Other Little Papers (1904) Bohemia in London (1907) A History of Story-telling (1909) Edgar Allan Poe (1910) Oscar Wilde (1912) Portraits and Speculations (1913) Six Weeks in Russia (1919) The Crisis in Russia (1921) Racundra’s First Cruise (1923) Rod and Line (1929) Racundra’s Third Cruise (1972) The Autobiography The Autobiography of Arthur Ransome (1976)

It has become a reality, dear Harry. I feel very strangeÑa curious sensation in the throat, just as if I was going to cry, and yet it is exactly what I have been longing for. You know better than any one how I had set my heart on going to sea, and yet I thought that I should never manage it. But, after all, here I am, really and truly a midshipman; at least a volunteer of the first class, as we are called now. The first time I put on my uniform, with my gold-band cap and dirk, I could not help every now and then looking at the gold lace on my collar and the buttons with the anchor and crown, and very pretty and nice they looked; and I do believe that this half-reconciled poor mamma, and Fanny, and Mary, and dear little Emily to my going when they saw me with them on. IÕll tell you how it all happened. Uncle Tom came to stay with us. He had been at the Hall a week when, the very day before I was to go back to school, while we were all at breakfast, he got a long official-looking letter. No sooner had he torn it open and glanced at its contents, than he jumped up and shook papa by the hand, then kissed mamma, exclaiming, ÒThey do acknowledge my services, and in a handsome way too, and they have appointed me to the Juno intended for the South American station; the very ship I should have chosen! I must have Pringle with me. No nonsense, Mary. He wants to be a sailor, and a sailor he shall be. HeÕs well fitted for it. IÕll have no denial. ItÕs settledÑthatÕs all right.Ó (I had been telling him the day before how much I wanted to go to sea.) He carried his point, and set all the household preparing my kit, and then posted off for London, and rattled down to Portsmouth to hoist his flag. He is not a man to do things by halves. In three days I followed him. The ship was nearly ready for sea. Most of the officers had joined. There was only one vacancy, which I got. Another captain had been appointed, who had been superseded, and he had selected most of the officers.

Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Are you thinking of taking your first cruise vacation? If you are then you probably have a lot of questions. I know I did when I took my first cruise vacation. It can be overwhelming if you don't know where to start. I'll discuss the good, bad and the ugly when it comes to cruise vacations. The book will provide straight-forward advice from an experienced cruiser. Taking a cruise is overall the best vacation value for your dollar and this book will show you why and provide you valuable tips and insights. It will answer all the common questions that a first-time cruiser might ask. First-Time Cruise Vacation Common Questions Asked How to find the best deal? Should I use a travel agent? Is it worth it to buy travel insurance? How to avoid sea sickness? What is gambling like on a cruise ship? Do I have to book a shore excursion? And more! You are just a click away from finding out all you need to know about your first cruise vacation - and I'm sure it will be the best one ever! Scroll up and click the "Buy Now" button to get all the tips and practical advice you need. Bon Voyage and Happy Cruising!