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
Author
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...
More on Erskine ChildersDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Short Line War by Samuel Merwin
"The Short Line War is a story that will appeal more particularly to the sterner sex, and we take it that the hyphenated name, Merwin-Webster, stands...
K. by Mary Roberts Rinehart
This is a compelling mystery novel written in June 1915. Set in the bustling city of New York, the story follows the lives of several characters who f...
Rome and Carthage: The Punic Wars by Reginald Bosworth Smith
Embark on a captivating journey through the ancient world with "Rome and Carthage: The Punic Wars" by Reginald Bosworth Smith. Prepare to be transport...
The Last Three Soldiers by William Henry Shelton
In the haunting aftermath of a world-altering conflict, humanity teeters on the brink of oblivion. "The Last Three Soldiers" by William Henry Shelton...
Studies of Death by Count Stanislaus Eric Stenbock
It is a collection of seven short stories, first published in 1894. The stories are all set in the late 19th century, and they explore the themes of d...
Joan Haste by H. Rider Haggard
It is an enthralling novel that takes young readers on a thrilling journey of love, bravery, and self-discovery. Which was published in 1895. Set in t...
A History of the Four Georges in Four Volumes, Volume 1 by Justin McCarthy
Step into the extravagant courts and tumultuous times of Britain's past with "A History of the Four Georges in Four Volumes, Volume 1" by Justin McCar...
A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson
Sarah Morgan Dawson was a young woman of 20 living in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when she began this diary. The American Civil War was raging. Though at...
Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Volume 3 by Anonymous
In the six volumes of the Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories, Julian Hawthorne presents us thrilling and mysterious short stori...
100%: The Story of a Patriot by Upton Sinclair
"100%: The Story of a Patriot" dramatically recounts the adventures of a poor uneducated young man who lives by his wits and guile, as he becomes poli...
Reviews for The Riddle of the Sands
No reviews posted or approved, yet...