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  • Missee Lee

  • Swallows and Amazons Series, Book 10
  • By: Arthur Ransome
  • Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
  • Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (135 ratings)
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Missee Lee cover art

Missee Lee

By: Arthur Ransome
Narrated by: Gareth Armstrong
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Summary

For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, Arthur Ransome's classic Swallows and Amazons series stands alone. Originally published over a half-century ago, the 12 books are still eagerly read by children and adults alike - by all those captivated by the world of adventure and imagination. Such longevity is not only due to Ransome’s unparalleled gift of storytelling, but also his championing of qualities such as independence and initiative; virtues that appeal to every generation, whether young or old.

In Missee Lee, the original cast of the famed series is sailing under the stars and the command of Captain Flint in the South China Sea when Gibbet, their pet monkey, grabs the captain's cigar and drops it in the fuel tank. In minutes, the ship is ablaze (and doomed), and our seven luckless protagonists are adrift in two small boats. They make their way to land, only to find themselves the captives of one of the last remaining pirates operating off the China Coast.

However, Missee Lee, as it turns out, is no ordinary pirate; her father had sent her off to Cambridge University to prepare her for a life as a teacher, but when he dies she finds herself struggling to hold together the Three Island Confederation (Tiger, Turtle, and Dragon) and to be recognised as his legitimate heir.

Arthur Ransome was a prolific writer of children's books. Born in Leeds, in 1884, it was his father, a nature-loving history professor, who inspired his love of the outdoors and nurtured a passion for fishing. As a child he enjoyed active, outdoor holidays: sailing, camping, and exploring the countryside. He used many of these holiday settings for his children's stories, notably the much-loved Swallows and Amazons, a book that sits comfortably in the category of ‘timeless classic’. In 1936 he won the first ever Carnegie Medal for the sixth book in the Swallows & Amazons series, Pigeon Post.

©2013 Arthur Ransome (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Enchanting and escapist” (Sunday Express)

"There is plenty of excitement, a little danger, a quality of thinking, planning and fun which is delightful and stimulating" (Times Literary Supplement)

What listeners say about Missee Lee

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Got to have it in your collection

To me its the book you have to have to complete the series. Its not the best story A.R. wrote. That of course maybe because he wrote it as a story produced and written by the characters of Swallows and Amazons so it becomes just a little to fairytale.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Uncomfortable listening

We’ve loved every other Swallows and Amazons book, but gave up on this one. We couldn’t listen to any more of the racist descriptions of the Chinese. The story is also quite thin.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story and excellent narration

Enjoying these books all over again having read them over 40 years ago. Love the narration and although not my favourite story of the series, still keeps you guessing as to how they are going to escape.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of Ransome’s best

While this story is not very politically correct now, I read this as a boy and was thrilled by it having previously read Swallows and Amazons and Pigeon Post. Found it just as good a story as I remembered and well read as usual by Gareth Armstrong.
Has a greater sense of adventure and danger than most others in the series which sets it apart, but contains same sense of resourcefulness and spirit to reassure that it will have a happy outcome. Great stuff.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

tricky with the chinese accents

another installment in the Swallows and Amazons series. not as good as the others as it was hard to know which Chinese character was speaking.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A jolly good adventure!

Another terrific Swallows and Amazons story set in the South China seas.One of the best for me. Not very PC but of its time. The plot moves on quickly and the last chapters are quite exciting. Well read as always.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Bought this to finish the set, wish I hadn’t.
The story line is weak and the Latin grammar sections went on and on and on...
We were fine with the unbelievable pirate story line, but disappointed by the flippancy of the children being possibly beheaded or never seeing their parents again!
Gareth Armstrong did his best with what he was given. But even his usual great narration couldn’t save this overlong and rather tedious story.
I will be returning this.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best story ever!

Best story ever! Good narration that allows this story to be as fresh now as it was when it was first written

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