Nancy Blackett facts for kids
Nancy Blackett is a brave and adventurous fictional character from Arthur Ransome's famous Swallows and Amazons series of children's books. She appears in nine of the twelve books. Nancy is the captain of her own small boat, a dinghy called Amazon. She often leads her friends on exciting adventures. Unlike some of Ransome's other characters, Nancy was not based on a real person; she was entirely created by the author. You can also see Nancy in TV shows and movies, including the 1963 BBC TV series and the 1974 and 2016 films.
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Nancy's Role in the Books
When the Swallows and Amazons series begins, Nancy is 12 years old. She lives with her younger sister Peggy and their mother in a large house called Beckfoot in the beautiful Lake District. Ransome doesn't give many details about how Nancy looks, only saying she is "bigger than John" (who is another main character).
Nancy's Personality and Habits
Nancy is a bit of a tomboy. She loves sailing her dinghy, Amazon, and often wears a red pirate cap. She also uses fun pirate words like "shiver my timbers!" or "Jibbooms and bobstays!" In the first book, Swallows and Amazons, we learn that "Nancy" is actually a nickname. Her real name is Ruth, but she changed it because her Uncle Jim joked that pirates are "ruthless."
Nancy is the older of the two "Amazons" (she and Peggy) and is older than the "Swallows" (the Walker children). She usually takes charge and comes up with ideas for their adventures. Nancy has a very active imagination. She makes their adventures even more exciting by pretending they are in exotic places, like climbing Kanchenjunga (a real mountain) in Swallowdale, even though they are just climbing a local hill.
Nancy's Leadership in Adventures
Nancy is always a key part of the action, even when she can't join in directly. For example, in Winter Holiday, she has mumps and has to stay home. In The Picts and the Martyrs, she and Peggy are kept at home because their strict Great Aunt is visiting. Even then, her ideas and influence still drive the story.
Nancy's Character Traits
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Nancy grew up in a single-parent home with her mother, and her uncle was the only male influence she saw sometimes. This might be why she is so independent and self-reliant. Unlike John Walker, the captain of the Swallow boat, who often asks his father for permission, Nancy makes her own decisions and acts on them.
How Nancy Changes Over Time
Some people think Nancy has a less realistic view of the world compared to John, who is more practical. For example, John thinks Nancy's idea of living on Wildcat Island all year round is not possible. However, as the series goes on, Nancy matures. She starts using her energy to help and support the younger children in the group.
Nancy isn't perfect, though. She sometimes bends the rules a little, especially when compared to John and the Swallows, who follow a very strict code of honesty. Some readers like this about her because it makes her seem more real and relatable.
Who Inspired Nancy Blackett?
Many of Ransome's characters were based on real people he knew. However, no one specific person has been confirmed as the direct inspiration for Nancy. There have been a few ideas, though.
Possible Inspirations for Nancy
One suggestion is Dora Collingwood, the daughter of a writer named W. G. Collingwood. Ransome met her on Peel Island in 1896. Another idea is Taqui Altounyan, Dora Collingwood's daughter and the oldest of the Altounyan children, who were the models for the "Swallows" characters.
Ransome himself never clearly said who inspired Nancy. He only mentioned that he once saw two young girls wearing red caps playing by the shore of Coniston Water near his house. Another idea is Georgina Rawdon Smith, who played with the Altounyan children near Coniston Water.
Ransome's Thoughts on Nancy
Ransome had a complicated relationship with Nancy as a character. He knew that her strong personality often drove the stories and led the plots. But he also felt that her presence sometimes made other characters seem less important. In a letter from 1929, he wrote that in Winter Holiday, "the main point of the new book is that two other children turn up... and then get involved in one of Captain Nancy's colossal plans for adventure." But he also noted that Peggy, Nancy's sister, would get a "fair chance" in that book, as she had been "dominated by Nancy" in earlier stories.
Nancy in Film and Television
Nancy Blackett has been brought to life on screen several times:
- In the 1963 BBC television show, Nancy was played by Amanda Coxell (who is now known as Mandy Harper).
- In the 1974 film, Kit Seymour took on the role of Nancy.
- More recently, Seren Hawkes played Nancy in the 2016 film adaptation.
