[1][2] The title is taken from Matthew Arnold's poem Sohrab and Rustum, and the characters in the story choose names from it for the places around them in the north coast of Devon; the real Oxus is a river in Central Asia.

Hull and Whitlock met when they were pupils (14 and 15 years old respectively) at St Mary's School, Ascot, whilst sheltering from a thunderstorm.

The book, illustrated by Whitlock, was successful; contemporary reviewers were impressed and critics today remain positive.

[8] Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children's Books in Newcastle upon Tyne now houses the Pamela Whitlock Archive.

It contains the author's original art work for the books as well as correspondence between herself and Arthur Ransome, and letters to her husband, John Bell, immediately after Pamela had passed away.