This year sees the 75th anniversary of the publication of "Secret Water", the eighth book in the "Swallows and Amazons" series by Arthur Ransome. The story is principally set in the Walton Backwaters and includes an second appearance by Nancy Blackett as the Goblin, being the direct sequel to the classic "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea".

Originally published in 1939 by Jonathan Cape, "Secret Water" has been a childhood favourite of many ever since. The Patron of the Nancy Blackett Trust, Dame Ellen MacArthur, says the following about her memories of the book:

"Living so far away from the sea Arthur Ransome's books were an inspirational lifeline for me as a child, and having experienced sailing for the first time on the east coast, 'Secret Water' in particular was an extremely special book for me. Each time we were to sail to Walton on the Naze I would take along my thumbed and worn copy of 'Secret Water', which I would read for the second or third time excitedly as we headed to the coast. Once aboard it lay safely tucked away beneath the pillow in my bunk in the forepeak from where I would read and study the maps within it by torchlight to the sounds of the water lapping on the hull beside me. It's hard to imagine those words were written 75 years ago, as the stories and adventures which they describe ring true as strongly today as they ever did …"

New paperback editions of both "Secret Water" and "We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea" are due to be published next week on 5th June by Vintage Books, a sister imprint of Jonathan Cape. They include new award-winning cover illustrations by Pietari Posti, a large, clear, easy-to-read typeface, all of Arthur Ransome’s original illustrations, plus quizzes, games and additional information in ‘Backstory’ sections.

You can help support the work of the Nancy Blackett Trust by buying these new editions from the Nancy Blackett Shop. Prices are £7.99 plus postage and packing.