Blood Red Snow White
by Sedgwick, Marcus
pub. by Roaring Brook Press div of Holtzbrinck Pub. NY. 2007     isbn - 978-1626725478 - (LCCN 2015 034428) - - 304 p. - Authors note p.287 - Timeline p. 289 - Ransome the spy p.294 - Appendix (memos from governmental sources p. 297
This is a fictionalized biography of Arthur Ransome, who in his later years wrote the Swallows and Amazons series of books for children.
This book only covers the life of Arthur Ransome from approximately 1910 through 1920 with some notes to 1942.

This book is written in 3 major parts.
The FIRST is titled A Russian Fairy Tale.
    It is 71 pages are written in the style of a fairy tale and describe the set up to the Russian Revolution.
The SECOND is titled One Night in Moscow.     It extends from page 75 through page 167 and consists of the major body of the book,
    the biographical part about Arthur Ransome in Russia and activities there.
The THIRD is titled A Fairy Tale, Ending.
    It extends from page 179 through page 281. It describes Ransome and Evgenia escaping Moscow to Stockholm, Sweden
    and further complications, back to Russia and the final exit from Russis to Reval, Estonia.
A final part, page 282 through 286 wrap up the biography.
That is followed by a 2 page authors note where Marcus Sedgwick explains the structure of this book and
that is fictionalized with conversation among the characters,
he attempted to write it as close to the historical events as possible.
Sedgwick includes a timeline from 1905 through 1919 to assist the reader to understand the events which occured during the time.
An almost surprising twist at the end is a bit about whether or not Arthur Ransome was a spy, and
since the British National Archives released the secret service files from the WWI era
one could see what their communications about Arthur Ransome contained.
An appendix at the end includes 8 pages of transcribed internal memos about Ransome.

This book was written for young readers. The chapters are very short, making it feel like a fast read.

If you want to read full biographies on Arthur Ransome, there are 3 major ones
    The Autobiography of Arthur Ransome - by Ransome, Arthur published 1976, republished 1985
    The life of Arthur Ransome - by Brogan, Hugh published 1984
    The Last Englishman - the double life of Arthur Ransome - by Chambers, Roland published 2009

This book Snow White Blod Red is a - Good Read - enjoy.
~ 2024-10-08 ~

to Books index page.

-
---------------