List of characters in Arthur Ransome books

This is a listing of characters from the "Swallows and Amazons" series of books by Arthur Ransome.

The Swallows

*John Walker — eldest of the Walker children and Captain of the "Swallow"
*Susan Walker — Mate of the "Swallow" and the cook and domestic organizer
*Titty Walker — Able Seaman and the most imaginative of the Walkers
*Roger Walker — originally Ship's Boy, later Able Seaman, mischievous, mechanical and very fond of chocolate. He is the youngest of the children apart from the baby. The character of Roger was based on Roger Altounyan, who went on to become an acclaimed scientist.
*Bridget Walker — Ship's Baby who proves to be a brave member of the crew in "Secret Water"

The Amazons

*Nancy Blackett (real name: Ruth) — Captain of the "Amazon"; an enterprising leader. Nancy — who dislikes her given name Ruth because Amazons are supposed to be "ruthless" — is a strong character who would probably be considered a tomboy. When Ransome was first writing "Swallows and Amazons" in 1928, it was unusual for a female character to display such active leadership over males as Nancy Blackett does in the whole series of books. Nancy is the elder of the Amazon Pirates, and is also older than all of the Swallows. She is an imaginative and lively girl who is always willing to create fantasies and adventures. Nancy is a skilled sailor, to the point where John Walker is always determined not to make mistakes in front of her from fear of earning her disapproval.
*Peggy Blackett (real name: Margaret) — Mate of the "Amazon", Nancy's sister; although a bit timid, tries to live up to Nancy's expectations

The Ds

*Dorothea Callum — imaginative romantic novelist
*Dick Callum — scientific and thoughtful, comes up with solutions to technical problems

The Coots

*Tom Dudgeon — competent sailor and skipper of the "Titmouse" on the Norfolk Broads
*Bess "Port" Farland — left handed twin and expert yacht racer
*Nell "Starboard" Farland — right handed twin and expert yacht racer
* "The Death and Glories" :
*Joe — co-owner of the "Death and Glory" and owner of a white rat, 'Ratty'.
*Bill — co-owner of the "Death and Glory".
*Pete — is the youngest co-owner of the of the "Death and Glory" and keenest fisher of the crew (cf: St Peter).

The Eels

*Don (The Mastodon) — Eel who is a resident of "Secret Water"
*Daisy — leader of the Eels
*Dum — Eel, elder brother of Daisy
*Dee — Eel, younger brother of Daisy

Friendly Natives

*James Turner also known as Captain Flint — the brother of Mrs Blackett and therefore uncle to Nancy and Peggy Blackett, by whom he is considered "unfriendly" at the beginning of "Swallows and Amazons". He is given his nickname by the Walker family (the Swallows) after Captain Flint of "Treasure Island". After differences are resolved he becomes the closest adult ally to the Swallows and the Amazons and joins them in many adventures.
*Molly Blackett — mother of Nancy and Peggy Blackett ("Peter Duck" is dedicated to Mrs Robert Blackett and Mrs E.H.R. Walker)
*Mrs Walker — called "Mother" (or "Mary" by Ted) — mother of the Swallows
*Cdr Walker — called "Daddy" (Ted) — father of the Swallows
*Jim Brading — owner of the "Goblin" in "We Didn't Mean To Go To Sea"
*Timothy Stedding — friend of Captain Flint, originally known as Squashy Hat the rival prospector
*Dr Dudgeon, Mrs Dudgeon, and our baby — Tom's family
*A.P — Mr Farland, Port and Starboard's father, the "Aged Parent"
*Mrs McGinty — Housekeeper to Mr Farland
*Mrs Barrable — Admiral of the fleet, and custodian of the "Teasel"
*William — the noble and heroic Pug who braved the mud to save the crew of the "Teasel" from starvation on Breydon Water
*The Billies — Old Billy and Young Billy, father and son charcoal burners, who befriend the Swallows in "Swallows and Amazons" and Young Billy treats Roger for his sprained ankle in "Swallowdale". Young Billy is over 70 and Old Billy is 94.
*Mr & Mrs Jackson — farmers at "Holly Howe", the Swallows' initial holiday location.
*Mr & Mrs Dixon — farmers at "Dixon's Farm", where the Swallows often go for milk, and where Dick and Dorothea stay during Winter Holiday. Mrs Dixon was nurse to Dick and Dorothea's mother when she was young.
*Mr & Mrs Swainson and Mary Swainson (their grand-daughter) — Farmers at "Swainson's Farm" where the Swallows go for milk when shipwrecked in Swallowdale; Neddy who is 90 sings them a song.
*Mrs Tyson and her son Robin — In Pigeon Post; she is apprehensive about fires and they are glad to escape from Tyson's Farm to the campsite by the spring.

Other friendly characters

*Peter Duck — elderly sailor with a story of treasure
*Bill — cabin boy of the "Viper" who joins the crew of the "Wild Cat"
*Missee Lee — Chinese pirate leader

Unfriendly Natives

*Maria Turner, also known as Great Aunt Maria or The G.A. — the childhood guardian of James Turner and Molly Turner, whose parents are never named. Jim and Molly address her as "Aunt Maria" and she held considerable sway as head of the family, even after Molly's marriage to Bob Blackett. As a parent figure to their mother, Great Aunt Maria clearly thought of herself as something of a grandmother-figure to her great nieces Nancy and Peggy Blackett. However, their view of her as some sort of distant relative, as well as an overprotective adventure-spoiler, forms the basis of the conflict between them and her. Of the twelve completed books in the series, she makes appearances in two, Swallowdale and The Picts And The Martyrs.
*George Owdon — a Norfolk boy, older than Tom Dudgeon, in "Coot Club" and "The Big Six"
*Ralph Strakey — a friend of George Owdon in "The Big Six"
*Mr Jemmerling — an egg collector and owner of the "Pterodactyl" in "Great Northern?"
*The Hullabaloos — hire the "Margoletta" in "Coot Club"
*The Dogmudgeon — Scottish head ghillie who at first stalks the explorers in "Great Northern?" but later assists them against Mr Jemmerling

Other unfriendly characters

*Taicoon Chang and Taicoon Wu — heads of the Three Island Pirates who want to chop off heads in "Missee Lee".
*Black Jake and the crew of the Viper — five criminals who are after Peter Duck's treasure. The porter says Black Jake has "got the scum of the place with him in that hooker of his." Bill describes them: Simeon Boon just out from two years hard, Mogandy the negro, a brother of Black Jake wanted by the police, and a man with a scarred face who was chucker-out or bruiser at the Ketch as Ketch Can (a fisherman’s tavern in Lowestoft). Later when they climb onto the Wild Cat and attack Bill and Peter Duck, it is apparent that the others do not trust Black Jake, and that Black Jake's brother is called George (see Chapters 1, 13 & 30).