The six for whom it was written

I happened to be thumbing through Swallows and Amazons, and I came across the dedication: "To the six for whom it was written in exchange for a pair of slippers". I'm fully conversant with this dedication, but suddenly it struck me as odd. Why was it six? Because there were 4, 5, or 7 Altounyans - four if you take the older children, five if you include Brigit, or seven if you include the parents. To get to six, you have to exclude either Brigit entirely, or Dora, the mother. It may have been that the five children and Ernest visited with the gift of the slippers on that day, but why would AR want to exclude Dora, and why would he want to dedicate a book for children to the father Ernest?

Or are the six the four older ones and the two Amazons, whosoever exactly they might be. But since they had no hand in the gift of the slippers, why include them? Was AR just thinking of the six main characters in the book?

According to Roger Wardale, the original dedication was to the four, and then it was altered to the six. But still, why exclude Brigit, especially when you've added in the two parents, and when she is at least in the book as a character rather than as a telegram sender. He also says the dedication was removed in 1948, but my 1955 edition still has it in. 

Rob

The 'six' are always taken to be Taqui, Susie, Mavis (Titty) and Roger Altounyan, plus their parents Ernest and Dora, on the basis that these four children and two adults were the ones that AR witnessed sailing Swallow and Mavis at Coniston in 1928. Brigit was only two then and was not part of things. However, bearing in mind that Brigit Altounyan does seem to appear, albeit inactively, as 'Vicky' in SA, I share Rob's puzzlement that AR did not alter the dedication to 'seven'. Perhaps AR interpreted strictly the phrase 'for the six for whom it was written', and considered that he did not write SA for Brigit. It's possible that 'Vicky' in SA was never intended to be based on Brigit - hence the later change of name. A lot lies under the surface with regard to the relationship between AR and the Altounyans and we will probably never know all the facts.

Thanks, Peter.

Anyone any thoughts about my other query as to when this dedication was removed?

Rob

Rob - I'll have to pass on that one! This is Wayne Hammond territory. I seem to remember that the appearance, or not, of the dedication depends on which country the book in question was published in. More than that I cannot say. Anyone like to elucidate?

Rob, Peter,

I've had a quick look at Wayne Hammond's bibliography. In it he states that the May 1958 author's note was indeed written in 1958, but did not begin to appear in the Cape hardbacks until 1970. He goes on to say that the dedication to "the six for whom it was written" was removed at the same time - ie there was a straight swap.

This was apparently in accordance with Evgenia's wishes. She had discussed various changes to the books with G Wren Howard soon after AR's death, but Howard was himself in poor health and he died in 1968 before any changes were carried through. Hence the delay until 1970.

Wayne Hammond also mentions that Evgenia corresponded with Puffin to introduce the same changes to the paperback editions. However, the changes were not necessarily made immediately by both publishers, nor were they necessarily made simultaneously by both. Presumably they happened as and when each publisher needed to reprint the relevant book.

Does that help?

Previously Peter Hyland wrote:

Rob - I'll have to pass on that one! This is Wayne Hammond territory. I seem to remember that the appearance, or not, of the dedication depends on which country the book in question was published in. More than that I cannot say. Anyone like to elucidate?

Previously Geraint Lewis wrote:

Rob, Peter,

I've had a quick look at Wayne Hammond's bibliography. In it he states that the May 1958 author's note was indeed written in 1958, but did not begin to appear in the Cape hardbacks until 1970. He goes on to say that the dedication to "the six for whom it was written" was removed at the same time - ie there was a straight swap.

This was apparently in accordance with Evgenia's wishes. She had discussed various changes to the books with G Wren Howard soon after AR's death, but Howard was himself in poor health and he died in 1968 before any changes were carried through. Hence the delay until 1970.

Wayne Hammond also mentions that Evgenia corresponded with Puffin to introduce the same changes to the paperback editions. However, the changes were not necessarily made immediately by both publishers, nor were they necessarily made simultaneously by both. Presumably they happened as and when each publisher needed to reprint the relevant book.

Does that help?

Previously Peter Hyland wrote:

Rob - I'll have to pass on that one! This is Wayne Hammond territory. I seem to remember that the appearance, or not, of the dedication depends on which country the book in question was published in. More than that I cannot say. Anyone like to elucidate?

 

Rob, I have always found the dedication of S & A interesting. My comments on the removal are based on conversations and deduction. The removal of the dedication was not during AR's lifetime. I understand that AR was concerned about the interpretation and the note dated 1958 is initialled by AR. However it doe not appear in the 1964 edition of S&A which has the dedication to the six. further it does not appear in the 1967 edition of S & A which again has the dedication to the six. However it does appear in the 1970 edition of S&A and the dedication to the six is omitted. I have not seen the current issues of S & A but I understand that the dedication is to be re-inserted. One must draw their own conclusion. Regards John Cowen