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Books Related to The Riddle of the Sands Erskine Childers - ISBN: 0140621431
Riddle: where's the spy story? - Rated
It has a nice picture on the front. And it has a few nice sea scenes in it (a lot of rain, mist and wind on the North Sea). I am from Holland and I know someone from Spiekeroog (one of the islands in the book) so it was nice to sea (an honest slip...)it in print.
Oh yes, I almost forgot: what about the spy story? Well, you've got to read about 3 quarters of the book (all about the sea and the sand and the clouds and rain and mist and also some German sea-folk) before the narrative picks it up. It then starts to unfold very slowly - more like a side issue. And then it is suddenly resolved over half a page. And then there's a final bit of sailing and the sea.
What about "the growing German menace that existed just before WWI", that several reviewers commented on, and Childers "depicts so exquisitely"? Frankly, the gentle rhythm of the waves lulled me into a (false?) sense of security.
Riddle Of The Sands - Rated
This is just a beautifully crafted book. Although its espionage is old fashioned (no e-mails or computer codes here) the descriptive writing that Childers uses to depict the growing German menace that existed just before WWI is quite exquisite. The story is told at a pace that on occcasions you can stop and feel the Friesan salt spray on your face whilst never wanting to linger too long in case you miss something. I read this as a teenager and again as I turned 30. Having just read it again it has lost none of its charm. A great story of espionage and intrigue that is extremely well told. And not a dry Martini in sight....
A beautiful book - Rated
This is a beautiful book, I loved every second, have read it cover to cover many times. The story brilliantly captures the nervousness of the period leading up to the Great War. The atmosphere is amazing, you can almost see the cold windswept dunes of the German coast. The tension builds fast to the climax and the ambiguous ending just leaves you wishing that there was more.
the riddle of the sands - Rated
I saw the film of this but I liked the book so much I read it 3 times. I enjoyed the way the plot unfolds and I loved the descriptions around the Frisian Islands of the maze of sand bars. This book confirms what a mistake it is to consign old books to 'history' - it could easily be a modern story apart from some of the names of people. One is constantly reminded of the waste/tragic death of Erskine Childers in the Irish troubles.
The greatest adventure novel ever. - Rated
This novel, the first ever spy story, is truly of it's era. The story's heroes may seem quaint by the standards of the 21st Century (it is interesting to observe the manners between foes!!)but Childer's novel accurately predicted that Britain's main threat at the turn of the 20th Century was Germany rather than the more traditional foe of France. Consequently, this book caused shock waves in England and Childers even received the wrath of Winston Churchill such was it's radical prediction. Whilst no invasion via the Frisian Islands materialised, it is allged that this book prompted the navy to develop it's base at Scarpa Flow. Clearly this book was explosive stuff one hundred years ago! The story concerns two men who uncover the covert plans of the German navy whilst under the pretext of hunting for duck. Whilst the first half of the book concerns itself with aspects of sailing and builds up a tremendous atmosphere that evokes the period and bleakness of the coast of Germany, the pace accelerates as the incredible truth eventually becomes apparent... Having re-visited this book over and over again, for me it represents my defining image of the twilight of the British Empire. This is a must for all lovers of well -written spy and adventure stories.
