Winter Holiday (novel) facts for kids
Jonathan Cape edition
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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 Novel |
| Published | 1933 (Jonathan Cape) |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 978-0224606349 978-0224606349 (Jonathan Cape: hardback, 1933) |
| Preceded by | Peter Duck |
| Followed by | Coot Club |
Winter Holiday is the fourth book in Arthur Ransome's popular Swallows and Amazons series. It was first published in 1933. This story introduces two new main characters: Dick and Dorothea Callum, also known as "the Ds."
Unlike other books in the series, Winter Holiday does not focus on boats or sailing. Instead, the adventure takes place during winter. The children enjoy activities like ice skating, sending messages with semaphore and Morse code, and sledging.
Arthur Ransome used his own memories for this book. He remembered the "Great Frost" of 1895 when Windermere lake froze completely. He was also inspired by Fridtjof Nansen's books. Nansen was an explorer who crossed Greenland in 1888. He also went on an Arctic trip from 1893 to 1896 using a ship called the Fram and sledges.
The Adventure Begins
Brother and sister Dick and Dorothea Callum meet the Swallows and Amazons. They meet during winter by a frozen lake. Dick and Dorothea are watching stars from a quiet barn. Soon, they become good friends with the other children.
They quickly join the group's games. Their main game is pretending to be on an Arctic expedition. The holiday gets longer when Nancy, one of the Amazons, gets mumps. This means the whole group is quarantined. They cannot go back to their boarding schools.
Winter Fun and a Rescue
While waiting for snow, the children have many adventures. They try to rebuild an igloo. They also build a special ice sled. Dick shows how brave he is by saving a sheep. The sheep belongs to Farmer Dixon. It is stuck on an icy ledge.
Dick's bravery earns Farmer Dixon's thanks. The farmer even gives the children a sled of their own.
The North Pole Expedition
A lot of snow falls, and the weather stays very cold. The lake freezes over completely, which is unusual. This gives the children a great chance for an expedition. They plan to go to a point at the head of the lake. They have named this spot the "North Pole."
However, their plans go wrong. The Ds set out earlier than expected. This happens because of a misunderstanding about a signal flag. Then, a blizzard starts. The Ds are missing! A rescue team is quickly put together. It includes the Swallows and Peggy, another one of the Amazons.
