
The Riddle of the Sands
'The Riddle of the Sands ' Summary
The novel "owes a lot to the wonderful adventure novels of writers like Rider Haggard, that were a staple of Victorian Britain". It was a spy novel that "established a formula that included a mass of verifiable detail, which gave authenticity to the story the same ploy that would be used so well by John Buchan, Ian Fleming, John le Carré and many others." All of the physical background is completely authentic - the various Frisian islands and towns named in the book actually exist and the descriptions of them accurate. The same is true for the various "sands" of the title - vast areas which are flooded at high tide but become mudflats at ebb. Navigating a small boat under these conditions requires a specialized kind of skilled seamanship - of which the character Davies is an unsurpassed master, and the descriptions of his feats are of abiding interest to yachting enthusiasts, quite apart from their role in the book's espionage plot.
Book Details
Authors

Erskine Childers
Irish
Robert Erskine was an English-born Irish writer, whose works included the influential novel The Riddle of the Sands. He became a supporter of Irish Republicanism and smuggled guns into Ireland in his...
Books by Erskine ChildersDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

The Arrow of Fire by Roy J. Snell
When fifteen-year-old Alex stumbles upon an ancient medallion buried deep within the embers of a long-forgotten fire, he unwittingly sets off a chain...

The Man Without a Conscience by Nicholas Carter
In this story, Nick has been contacted by his old friend, Chief Weston, of the Boston Police Department. When he arrives, he is shown a photograph, d...

Poems by the Most Deservedly Admired Mrs. Katherine Philips, The Matchless Orinda by Katherine Philips
Katherine Philips, known as "The Matchless Orinda," was a celebrated poet known for her passionate and politically charged works. In this collection,...

Kuning Hartfest by Christoph David Friedrich Weinland
Das Buch ‚Kuning Hartfest‘ von Christoph David Friedrich Weinland erzählt die Geschichte von Kuning Hartfest, einem germanischen Krieger, der im 1. Ja...

A Political Pilgrim in Europe by Mrs. Philip Snowden
This book offers readers a captivating exploration of the political climate in Europe during the early 20th century. This engaging travelogue chronicl...

A Strange Disappearance by Anna Katharine Green
In the midst of bustling New York City, a woman vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a haunting enigma. Anna Katharine Green's "A Strange Disappea...

An Eye For An Eye by William Le Queux
The enigmatic protagonist, John Mallathorpe, finds himself entangled in a web of treachery that spans continents and transcends time. When a series o...

An Outcast Of The Islands by Joseph Conrad
It follows the story of Willems, a European trader who finds himself in the middle of a dangerous and complex situation in a remote island community....

The Haunted Hangar by Van Powell
What's lurking in the shadows of the abandoned hangar? In The Haunted Hangar, Van Powell tells the story of two teenagers who stumble upon a ghostly...

The Adventures of a Cat, and a Fine Cat Too! by Alfred Elwes
It is a charming and delightful children's book. First published in 1857, this classic tale is still beloved by readers of all ages today. The story f...
Reviews for The Riddle of the Sands
No reviews posted or approved, yet...