The Big Six facts for kids
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| Author | Arthur Ransome |
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| Cover artist | Arthur Ransome |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Swallows and Amazons |
| Genre | Children's novels |
| Publisher | Jonathan Cape |
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Publication date
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1940 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 978-1-56792-119-9 (David R. Godine, Publisher: paperback, 2000) |
| OCLC | 9647950 |
| Preceded by | Secret Water |
| Followed by | Missee Lee |
The Big Six is an exciting children's book by Arthur Ransome. It's the ninth story in his popular Swallows and Amazons series. This book came out in 1940.
In this adventure, we meet Dick and Dorothea Callum again. They are often called the "Ds." They go back to the Norfolk Broads, a beautiful area in England. There, they meet up with their friends from the Coot Club. This time, the story is like a detective mystery. The Ds and the Coot Club friends must solve a puzzle. It's a puzzle that could stop the "Death and Glories" from sailing their boats freely.
Contents
Unraveling the Mystery on the Water
The Ds are excited for their holiday in Norfolk. They hope to have fun with their friends from the Coot Club. But things are not peaceful. Pete, Bill, and Joe, known as the "Death and Glories," are in trouble. People suspect them of setting boats adrift.
Everywhere they go, boats seem to come loose from their moorings. The boys are threatened with being banned from sailing. Their fathers might even lose their jobs because of this. Things get worse when new metal shackles are stolen from a boat builder. Some of these shackles are found on the Death and Glory boat.
At the same time, the boys seem to have a lot of money. But they won't say where it came from. They had accepted a tow from a boat called the Cachalot. Its owner was a keen pike fisherman. By chance, the boys helped him catch a huge fish. This happened while the owner was at the local pub. The fisherman made them promise to keep it a secret. But he was an honest man. He gave them the money the pub owner had promised him for the fish. He knew he hadn't done anything to catch it himself.
The Big Six Team Up
The "Big Six" decide to work together. This group includes Dick, Dorothea, Tom Dudgeon, and the three Death and Glories. They want to investigate the crimes and find proof. Dorothea is very smart and good at thinking things through. Dick's camera becomes very important for collecting clues.
Their main opponents are the local policeman, PC Tedder, and a group of people watching over the area. One of these people is George Owdon. He was a troublemaker in the earlier book, Coot Club. So, he has a reason to cause problems for the boys.
Eventually, with help from the Cachalot's owner, they set a clever trap. In a flash, they take a night photo of the real culprits. The villains are caught, and the boys are proven innocent. The secret of their money is also revealed. The local pub proudly displays a magnificent stuffed pike.
Different Skills, One Goal
The book shows how different people can work together. The Death and Glories are sons of skilled workers in boatyards. The Ds, however, are children of university professors. The Ds are very intelligent, but they sometimes need help with practical things. Still, each group respects the other's strengths.
Tom Dudgeon is the son of the local doctor. He is somewhere in between the two groups. He respects learning and books. But when a large boat called a Norfolk wherry needs saving, he knows exactly what to do. Even his own father agrees that Tom is the expert in such situations.
The Big Six on Screen
The BBC made a TV series called Swallows and Amazons Forever! in 1984. This show was based on two of Arthur Ransome's books: Coot Club and The Big Six.
