An edition of The Riddle of the Sands (1903)

The Riddle of the Sands

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  • 3.3 (3 ratings) ·
  • 91 Want to read
  • 8 Currently reading
  • 6 Have read


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Last edited by bitnapper
September 18, 2023 | History
An edition of The Riddle of the Sands (1903)

The Riddle of the Sands

  • 3.3 (3 ratings) ·
  • 91 Want to read
  • 8 Currently reading
  • 6 Have read

The Riddle of the Sands is one of the earliest examples of the spy novel genre, and became hugely popular shortly after its publication. Childers carefully interweaves fiction with real-world places, events, and politics, making for an extremely convincing story of invasion—so convincing that some (perhaps erroneously) credit the novel with spurring the creation of new English naval bases. The framing device, where Childers pretends to be an editor presenting a factual account, only adds to the believability of the story.

The novel begins with Carruthers, an official in the Foreign Office, accepting an invitation from his friend Davies for what he assumes is a pleasure trip on a sailboat in the Baltic sea. As the two embark on their journey, it quickly becomes apparent that not everything is at it seems on the German coast.

Riddle helped energize the spy novel genre, providing a template for countless authors to come, including Ian Fleming and John le Carré, and has been adapted numerous times for film, television and radio.

Publish Date
Publisher
Standard Ebooks
Language
English

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands
2017, Standard Ebooks
in English
Cover of: The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands
Nov 07, 2017, Macmillan Collector's Library
hardcover
Cover of: The Riddle of the Sands
The Riddle of the Sands
Apr 16, 2014, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
paperback
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service
2011, Penguin Books, Penguin Classics
in English
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands
2009, Atlantic Books
in English - Crime Classics ed.
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service
2007, Penguin Books
in English
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service
1999, Penguin
in English
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service
1978, Sidgwick & Jackson in association with New English Library
in English - New edition.
Cover of: The riddle of the sands
The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service
1978, Penguin Books
in English
Cover of: THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS. A RECORD OF SECRET SERVICE. BY ERSKINE CHILDERS. FOREW. BY ERSKINE HAMILTON CHILDERS. INTROD. BY THE EARL OF LONGFORD
Cover of: The riddle of the sands: a record of secret service

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Book Details


ID Numbers

Open Library
OL37044757M
Standard Ebooks
erskine-childers/the-riddle-of-the-sands

Work Description

Childers's lone masterpiece, THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS, considered the first modern spy thriller, is recognisable as the brilliant forerunner of the realism of Graham Greene and John le Carre. Its unique flavour comes from its fine characterization,richly authentic background of inshore sailing and vivid evocation of the late 1890s - an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and intrigue that was soon to lead to war.

Excerpts

I HAVE read of men who, when forced by their calling to live for long periods in utter solitude-save for a few black faces-have made it a rule to dress regularly for dinner in order to maintain their self-respect and prevent a relapse into barbarism.
added anonymously.

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History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON / OPDS | Wikipedia citation
September 18, 2023 Edited by bitnapper Merge works (MRID: 80703)
September 18, 2023 Edited by bitnapper merge authors
February 9, 2022 Created by ImportBot Imported from standard_ebooks:erskine-childers record