Margot Pardoe facts for kids

Margot Pardoe (born August 8, 1902 – died January 5, 1996) was a British author who wrote exciting adventure stories for children. She used the pen name M. Pardoe. She wrote books for over 20 years, from the late 1930s to the early 1960s. She is most famous for her "Bunkle" adventure series.

Pardoe published more than 20 books. Many of these were very popular and received good reviews. For example, The Times Literary Supplement called her book The Far Island "realistic and charming." Some of her later books were even featured on a radio show called Children's Hour. A young Billie Whitelaw played the part of Bunkle on the show.

Life of Margot Pardoe

Margot Pardoe's childhood gave her many ideas for the places in her books. She was born in London and went to school in Hertfordshire and Paris. She also spent holidays in different countries and faraway places in Britain.

In 1934, she married John Swift. They settled in Somerset, where she started writing her first book, The Far Island. She wrote using her maiden name, Pardoe, but only used her first initial, M. This might have been because her name rhymed, and she was teased about it at school. Also, her publisher thought using "M." might make her books appeal to both boys and girls.

Pardoe and her husband opened a country house hotel called Crossacres, which became very successful. Their only child, Philip, was born there in 1939. However, they had to sell the hotel in 1947 because Margot Pardoe became very ill with pneumonia. During this illness, she started to lose her hearing. By her mid-40s, she was profoundly deaf.

In the 1950s, the family lived with Pardoe's elderly parents in Hampshire. She continued writing, but her books became less popular by the late 1950s. Stories about comfortable middle-class families were not as in demand anymore. Bunkle Brings It Off was her last book, published in 1961.

John Swift, her husband, passed away in 1984. Margot Pardoe lived in Norfolk until 1986. After a fall, she moved into a nursing home. She lived there until she died in 1996.

The Far Island Book

M. Pardoe's first book, The Far Island, introduces two main characters: Jean and Dick Fraser. They are adventurous and sophisticated children who usually spend their holidays at fancy resorts abroad.

They experience a big change when their great-grandmother sends them to Mora Island in Orkney. But they slowly get used to their new surroundings. In the end, they discover a secret on the island. These characters also appear in the "Bunkle" series, which is what the author is most famous for.

The Bunkle Series Adventures

There are twelve books in the exciting "Bunkle" series. The main character is Billy de Salis, who is nicknamed Bunkle. His siblings call him Bunkle because they say he talks a lot of "bunk" (meaning nonsense). He is the youngest of three children. His father is a British Secret Service Agent.

Bunkle, his brother Robin, and his sister Jill go on many adventures. They hunt down spies, smugglers, poachers, and even mysterious scientists.

Pardoe's books are similar to other popular children's books from her time. For example, like in Enid Blyton's stories, the children often have adventures without adults watching them. Also, like in Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series, many adventures happen in the countryside.

However, Pardoe's "Bunkle" series also has some unique differences. The children in her books live in a world that feels real. Unlike some other series, World War II is mentioned, along with things like rationing and blackouts. Also, the characters actually grow older throughout the series. Bunkle is ten years old at the start of the first book and slowly ages. His brother even joins the army, and his sister gets married during the series.

The Argle Series Time Travel

The "Argle" books feature the MacAlister children and their tutor. They go on three amazing time-slip adventures.

• In Argle's Mist, they travel back in time to Celtic Britain.
• In Argle's Causeway, they journey to Norman England.
• In Argle's Oracle, they visit classical Greece.

Published Books List