Arthur Ransome's Typewriter

This is a Remington Home Portable Typewriter which belonged to Arthur Ransome, the author of Swallows and Amazons. As well as writing and illustrating a series of children's books, Ransome wrote books on sailing, fishing and Russia where he spent a considerable amount of time.

He worked as correspondant for the Daily News and later, the Manchester Guardian, covering the news surrounding the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. This gave him unprecedented access to figures such as Leon Trotsky, something that British Intelligence took an interest in at the time. There has been much speculation as to Ransome's role in passing information between the Russia and Britain which continues to this day. It is, however, widely believed that Ransome's independance of mind made him unsuitable as an agent.

Ransome later married Trotsky's personal secretary, Evgenia Shelepina, and frequently wrote for the Manchester Guardian as well continuing the Swallows and Amazons series.