We Didn’t Mean to Go To Sea

We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea is a 1937 children's novel by Arthur Ransome. It is part of the Swallows and Amazons series, which focuses on holiday adventures.1

The story follows the Walker children, John, Susan, Titty, and Roger, who are left in the care of their mother's friend, Captain Flint, while their parents are away. The children, along with their two cousins, Nancy and Peggy Blackett, decide to take a sailing trip on their boat, the Swallow. They intend to go only as far as the island of the "Great Aunt," but a sudden fog rolls in, and they find themselves lost at sea. They must then navigate their way back to safety, facing storms and their own fears. The novel is considered Ransome's masterpiece and is celebrated for its vivid depiction of sailing and the children's resourcefulness.1