what was Titty' real name in Swallows and Amazons?

[thewhistler]

Letitia?

Pretty dire choice, I've always thought, by Ransome, though I love Letitia as a name..

[NormanTheForeman]

The name of the real girl was Mavis I believe. She never liked it so was known as Titty. But the others in the story, there was never a real John. The oldest child in the family was a girl, Taqui, then Susan, then Mavis (Titty) then Roger, and lastly Brigit (Bridget or Vicky in the books).

Arthur Ransome made Taqui into John for the purposes of the books.

[thewhistler]

How on earth do you get Titty from Mavis?

And yes, I've always been confused by the Bridget/Vicky child.

[DeepRedBetty]

She's called Vicky in the first book as she looks just like Queen Victoria, or so the older children think. Her real name is Bridget, the Ship's Baby.

[vesela]

When she (Mavis) was little her favourite story was Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse, and it came from that, apparently.

I've just googled the story, and it's fairly terrifying!!!
www.authorama.com/english-fairy-tales-18.html

[motherinferior]

He was a Trotskyist, wasn't he?

[thewhistler]

Ah, thanks. all is explained now.

He married his secretary.

[UniS]

I had thought that titty may have been based on Mavis, but was named for Taqui who had John based upon but obv not named after.

Nancy being the nickname for Ruth, because Pirates are ruthless, I have always loved as piece of reasoning.

I know a ruth, and she is much as I imagine titty to be. Right down to being 3rd in a large family.

[thewhistler]

Yes, I love pirates being Ruthless too. Still makes me smile..

[gazzalw]

Isn't it Titania? I seem to recall from seeing the film back in the 70s!

[vesela]

gazzalw - Sophie Neville, who played Titty in the film says that she wrote Titania Walker on the front of her diary in the film by mistake, being under the same impression, and only later found out that it came from a mouse!

She's written a fascinating and detailed series of blog posts on the making of the film (she went on to work in film production - on Coot Club among other things). The ones about Swallows and Amazons are from 2011 and 2012 - they start here: sophieneville.net/2011/05/21/serendipity-or-swallows-and-amazons-forever/

[gazzalw]

Thanks, Vesela! Haven't watched it since I was a child, many moons ago, so obviously didn't really register the reason for her nickname !