The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
One of the first and still one of the finest spy stories ever written, Erskine Childers' book introduced Edwardian readers to the idea of a 'secret service'. In an enthralling tale of a duel among the islands and sandbanks of the North Sea, two amateur investigators and yachtsmen discover sinister preparations off the German coast. At great peril both from an implacable enemy and furious storms at sea, they stake their lives on the strength of their doughty boat, the Dulcibella. Will they fight their way back to England in time to sound a warning? The Riddle of the Sands caused a sensation when it appeared in 1903, with statesmen and soldiers drawn into a debate about Britain's readiness to repulse a naval invasion. So strong was its impact that one critic later accused its author of almost single-handedly starting a European war. But its influence would not have been so great if it had not been so powerfully readable, a quality it keeps to this day. Ranked with the greatest work of John Buchan, Joseph Conrad and Ian Fleming, this vintage adventure has lost none of its force.
About the Author Robert Erskine Childers (June 25, 1870-November 24, 1922) was born in Mayfair London, the son of British Orientalist Robert Ceasar Childers. When his father died, he went to live with his mother's family in Annamoe, County Wicklow, Ireland. He was schooled at Haileybury College and received his degree from Trinity College, Cambridge. Forced by an injury to give up sports like rugby he took to rowing and sailing. His summer yachting adventures in the Frisian Islands served as the background for his novel The Riddle of the Sands. He served as an artilleryman in the Boer War and as a reserve naval officer during World War I. He also became involved in Irish politics and the quest for Irish home rule. When it was decided that the Irish Free State would not include the northern counties he joined the Republican cause. This lead to his eventual arrest and execution on the charge of possessing an illegal weapon, a pistol given him by Michael Collins. His son Erskine Hamilton Childers became the fourth president of the Irish Republic.
| SKU | Nicht verfügbar |
| ISBN 13 | 9781840221787 |
| ISBN 10 | 184022178X |
| Title | The Riddle of the Sands |
| Author | Erskine Childers |
| Series | Tales Of Mystery And The Supernatural |
| Condition | Nicht verfügbar |
| Binding type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Wordsworth Editions Ltd |
| Year published | 2009-05-05 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Cover note | Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden. |
| Note | Nicht verfügbar |