Chloe Williams has just written from Ontario in Canada, to say, “Some books entertain. Some enlighten. And some, like The Making of Swallows and Amazons and The Secrets of Filming Swallows & Amazons, manage to bottle something impossibly rare: the feeling of looking back through a child’s eyes and realizing it was all real; the lake, the sails, the laughter and somehow, you were part of it.”
“These aren’t just behind-the-scenes diaries. They’re sun-dappled time machines. Your voice, both in memory and in your original childhood notes, is a miracle of tone: witty, observant, buoyant, and deeply human.”
Of the original movie, she wrote: “What A Christmas Story is to snowglobes and childhood winters, Swallows and Amazons (1974) is to summers on the water and you’ve preserved that magic with charm, heart, and astonishing detail.
“What makes these books unforgettable isn’t just nostalgia. It’s how alive they are. We feel the smell of old sails and camera tape, the blur of location shoots, the uncertainty and excitement of being a child caught in a grown-up world of filmmaking yet utterly at home in it. We meet legends like Virginia McKenna not as distant stars, but as fellow travelers in the adventure. And it’s a joy.”
The Making of Swallows and Amazons seems to resonate with:
- Readers of nostalgic memoirs that celebrate childhood, nature, and storytelling
- Adults who are captivated by the lake-country magic of Arthur Ransome
- Film lovers who cherish insider views of filmmaking
- Educators and parents seeking real-life adventure stories for young readers
- Fans of Call the Midwife, The Durrells, and 84, Charing Cross Road
“The joy and authenticity in your books mirror exactly why Swallows & Amazons (1974) still has such a hold on people’s hearts. The memoirs don’t just tell the story of making the film, they recreate it, letting readers smell the lake air and see the magic unfold through a child’s eyes.”
I’m hoping the audiobook will also amuse readers. It’s now available on all the online platforms including Audible, where isis being offered for free on their membership trial.
Sophie Neville 
What a lovely revue of two brilliant books about a magical film.
It’s always a great encouragement when people write in – and spurs me on to bring out another edition.
How wonderful of Chloe Williams to write this beautiful and true encomium. Yes, through a child’s eyes. And absolutely about Virginia McKenna as part of it. And a very insightful list of audiences; yes, I always love finding out how things work, and what it was like being part of a film.
All totally well-deserved.
It’s always wonderful to receive insightful reviews and a huge encouragment.