We Didn't Mean to go to SeaWelcome to the Nancy Blackett Trust’s Book Month, celebrating 80 years of “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”, first published in November 1937.

Here at the Nancy Blackett Trust, we’re all about sailing and reading – boats and books, and in particular Arthur Ransome’s own Nancy Blackett and the book which features her: “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea.”

Following the success of our Marathon Reading of the book last month, we thought we’d encourage everybody to get reading, and to get friends and family reading, with some special activities around some of the books we sell. And remember – books make great Christmas presents!

Win a signed copy of The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974) by Sophie NevilleWe have Competitions!

For the first week of Book Month, you can win a signed copy of Sophie Neville’s book “The Making of Swallows and Amazons (1974)”, her often hilarious behind the scenes memories of the classic 1974 film in which she appeared as a child actor. To enter, all you need to do is just tell us which character Sophie played, and give us your email address – enter here by Sunday 12th November.

More competitions are coming up in the next few weeks!

We have Special Offers!

As it’s Book Month, ALL book orders will get a FREE North Sea Voyage A5 Postcard, newly designed by Claudia Myatt and based on the voyages of the Goblin in “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea”, and the Nancy Blackett in real life.

North Sea Voyage Map Postcard and Mini-PosterAll orders of £25 and over will also receive a FREE Burgundy Three Ships Teatowel worth £5 (while stocks last, value excludes shipping).

To encourage your reading, we are also offering 3 paperbacks for £20 on all “Swallows and Amazons” Red Fox editions and all “Strong Winds” series titles by Julia Jones. All are normally £7.99 each, so you will save over 16%.

Pre-order Good Little Ship by Peter WillisWe have a New Book!

COMING SOON is “GOOD LITTLE SHIP: Arthur Ransome, Nancy Blackett and the Goblin” by Peter Willis, with a Foreword by Libby Purves.

It’s the definitive story of the boat, the book she inspired (a classic of marine literature, ‘a book of which Conrad would have been proud’ according to Hugh Brogan) and the history of her near-death, restoration and renaissance as an ambassador for Arthur Ransome.

It’s due to be published by Lodestar Books on 16th November, but you can pre-order it now!

There will be more!

Nancy Blackett’s Book Month will include more book offers, competitions and live events!

Sign up now to receive email updates: