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The Big Six (1940)

Synposis and Further Information on The Big Six

 TheBigSix.jpg

The Big Six is in print, published by
Random House Ltd under its Jonathan Cape (hardback) and Red Fox
(paperback) imprints.

You can obtain copies at
the Society Stall, direct from the publisher or from any good bookshop.


        Synopsis

The Big Six is set on the Norfolk Broads. Joe, Bill and Pete, the younger members of the Coot Club, have converted their old boat the Death and Glory, so that they can live aboard. Tom, the leader of the Coot Club is still living in Horning, but Port and Starboard are abroad. The Coots are, however, keenly awaiting a visit from Dick and Dorothea Callum, the D's, who are due to come and stay in a cottage with Mrs Barrable.

All begins peacefully for Joe, Bill and Pete. But this gradually changes as someone begins to cast off vessels wherever they are moored. Because Tom once set the Margoletta adrift, suspicion falls onto Joe, Bill and Pete.

By the time the D's arrive, things look more serious still. Joe, Bill and Pete have a sudden windfall, courtsey of a reward from a friendly fisherman for helping him catch a record-breaking pike. But, sworn to secrecy by the fisherman, they can't explain their new wealth when equipment is reported stolen from a boatbuilder's store. 

Dorothea rapidly takes control, insisting that the Coot Club ought to investigate and find the real culprit. Naming themselves the Big Six, after the Big Five Superintendents of Scotland Yard, the Coot Club become detectives in a race against time, trying to discover the real culprit before Joe, Bill and Pete are summonsed to appear in court. Eventually, with the help of the fisherman, they lay a trap and secure proof at the last possible moment.  
     
 Approaching Arthur Ransome   For a more detailed synopsis of the Swallows and Amazons series, see  Approaching Arthur Ransome by Peter Hunt. ISBN 0-224-03288-7. Jonathan Cape, 1991.     
     
    Further Information

The Big Six is set after Pigeon Post, at the back end of the same summer holidays. In effect it runs concurrently to the events described in We Didn't Mean to go to Sea and Secret Water
     
TheBestOfChildhood.jpg   For a more detailed study of the background to the Swallows and Amazons Series, see Amazon Publication's The Best of Childhood, 2004. The Best of Childhood is available to current TARS Members from the Society Stall.
     

Secret Water (1939)   Return to "Books"    Missee Lee (1941) 
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