The Riddle of the Sands

by Childers, Erskine

• ISBN13: 9781408129418
• ISBN10: 1408129418
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-03-15
• Publisher: A&C Black

Summary

Described by Ken Follett as "the first modern thriller", The Riddle of the Sands is the best-known sailing narrative and a true classic. It was recently ranked 37th in The Observer's list of the 100 Greatest Novels of the past 300 years. Winston Churchill even credited it for the Admiralty's decision to build naval bases in Scapa Flow, Invergordon and Rosyth. Following in the adventurous tradition of H Rider Haggard, and being a clear influence on the espionage tales of John Buchan, Ian Fleming and John le Carré, The Riddle of the Sands tells the story of two young men on a sailing trip to the islands off the Dutch coast who discover a secret German naval base, and an enemy armada preparing to invade England. With its prescient plotline and patriotic call for the nation to prepare against its foreign foes, The Riddle of the Sands has remained enduringly popular ever since it was first published in 1903. This new edition includes detailed maps of the Dutch coastline and evocative black and white photographs of some of the places Carruthers and Davies visit.

Author Biography

Robert Erskine Childers took up sailing when a sciatic injury prevented him from taking part in many sporting activities. He served in the Boer War, later becoming vocally critical of how British troops were treated by their commanding officers. During the Irish Civil War of 1922-3 he joined the Republican army and was arrested and subsequently shot. The Riddle of the Sands is his most famous book, written in 1903.

Table of Contents

"Childers' central character, Carruthers, enters the story as little more than a peevish dandy but evolves into an agent of daring. The transformation [is] believably handled...Riddle in the Sands retains its ability to thrill and surprise...The novel's climax [is] a masterful exercise in suspense."—Los Angeles Times

 

"A gripping, entertaining adventure...well worth a read, or re-read...First published in 1903...It is immortal."—Natutical Magazine

 

"Widely acknowledged as one of the finest espionage novels of all time...Evocative description of cruising life...it's a great book...a truly charming read...The book has been repackaged...it has a range of charts so you can follow the intrepid sleuths as they progress through the islands...you also get a range of photographs of the Frisian Islands, which are supposed to bring the whole thing to life."—Sailing Today

 

"A welcome reissue for the classic 1903 tale of espionage...it comes with plenty of maps and photos...well worth a read."—Daily Echo

 

"A rip-roaring read with appeal for sea-goers and land lovers alike. This new edition includes maps and charts of the journey and photos of some of the featured locations. It's a great tale."—Lifeboat Magazine