Gilbert Hackforth-Jones

Having just come across a reference to AR in this blog, to the effect that "there are many ways that (his) writings recall better known authors of the period, such as Neville Shute and Arthur Ransome", I wonder whether anyone knows any more about the author Hackforth-Jones?  

It appears he wrote a series of children's books called "The Green Sailors" in the 1950s, which I have never heard of.

I had never heard of him either, so i resorted to google. It looks like the text in the entry you linked to was taken pretty well verbatim from a Wikipedia article on Hackforth-Jones. That doesn't help much but his "Green Sailor" books are available from alibris.com for £30-50 if you want to investigate their Ransome-like qualities. It looks as though his sailors offshore visiting the Galapagos and the South Seas. I wonder if they spotted a small green schooner on their travels.

I have read one or two of the series , borrrowed from Jan Allen, who has the largest library of children's literature that I have ever seen.  Picture [if you can] a wall about 30 ft long and 9ft high filled with books!   I can't recall the stories now, and tend to get them confused with those of Aubrey de Selincourt.  I think that the children involved lived close to an estuary which might have been modelled on the Orwell.  Everything else is pretty vague.

David

Previously Geraint Lewis wrote:

Having just come across a reference to AR in this blog, to the effect that "there are many ways that (his) writings recall better known authors of the period, such as Neville Shute and Arthur Ransome", I wonder whether anyone knows any more about the author Hackforth-Jones?  

It appears he wrote a series of children's books called "The Green Sailors" in the 1950s, which I have never heard of.

Hi Adam and Dave,

Belated apologies: I should have thanked you much sooner for your replies about Hackforth-Jones. I can only plead the intrusion of that pesky thing "native life" that seems to keep getting in the way.

I must admit I haven't got around to reading Aubrey de Selincourt (yet). But there was an interesting talk about him at the last TARS Literary Weekend, so I've got some idea of his work. From the details you've both given above about Hackforth-Jones, I can see why you see links between the two.

Thanks again!

Previously Geraint Lewis wrote:

Hi Adam and Dave,

Belated apologies: I should have thanked you much sooner for your replies about Hackforth-Jones. I can only plead the intrusion of that pesky thing "native life" that seems to keep getting in the way.

I must admit I haven't got around to reading Aubrey de Selincourt (yet). But there was an interesting talk about him at the last TARS Literary Weekend, so I've got some idea of his work. From the details you've both given above about Hackforth-Jones, I can see why you see links between the two.

Thanks again!

 

Belatedy - we used to listen to the Green Sailors on Children's Hour in the 1950s/60s and thought they were wonderful. I more recently - a few years ago now - acquired and read the first of the series and found it dreadful. Sub-Blyton. Aubrey de Selincourt is MUCH better. The TARS Library now has the Green Sailors series, courtesy of Doug Faunt.

Thanks Peter!

There's a reason I was willing to give the Green Sailors books.  They may have been great on the radio, and the first couple are OK, but they rapidly get pretty dire.

I would like to have a list of the appropriate de Selincourt books.