AN AUTHOR’S TALE

Secret Life Of Books, 8pm, BBC4

IN ANOTHER of these succinct programmes, John Sergeant reveals the history of Swallows And Amazons. He learns how it was inspired by Arthur Ransome’s childhood trips to the Lake District and sees a precursor to the novel, which Ransome wrote aged eight. There’s also insight into Ransome’s time as a journalist in Russia. There’s a longer programme in this story . . .