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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
To think that this book is supposed to be one of the first spy novels... It is so badly written that I am surprised it did not kill the spy novel genre at its very birth.
I haven’t any recollection of that recent read that recommended “The Riddle...” to me; it’s lost.
Have JUST reread this one —in my newly acquired Macmillan Collector’s Library edition. Carruthers’ account of his time aboard Davies’ yacht -the Dulcibella- yet stands as a well crafted piece of writing, a bit of an early 20th Century adventure story of two very young Englishmen who turn spy upon the Kaiser’s Germany - a decade before the First World War.
The writing style’s splendid and clean and reminded me of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories — with a whole lot of nautical terminology and good natured humor tossed in.
Our heroes:
Carruthers at first presents as a rather superficial and self-absorbed but decidedly fortunate fellow with a worthy position, and Davies a simple down on his luck acquaintance from University days who’s passionately in love with the sea.
Carruthers accepts Davies’ ‘seemingly out of the blue’ invitation for yachting and duck hunting in the Baltic out of boredom, not because he hopes to develop any deeper intimacy of friendship with this fellow from Uni days... but then things begin to surface.
“...deep misgiving stirred me that, clever as I thought myself, nicely perceptive of the right and congenial men to know, I had made some big mistakes—how many, I wondered? ... little as I deserved it, the patient fates were offering me a golden chance of repairing at least one.”
Carruthers begins to see differently ... deeper ... with the help of the sea and he thinks , “You’re so casual and quiet in the extraordinary things you do.”
Whether there’s a Dulcibella moment in our own lives, or a Davies who invites us into a deeper journey, we may have yet to solve the riddle that lies within before the sands slip through.
Sometimes, all it takes for one to begin to search oneself... just to be able to see someone else as simple and beautifully made.
“ ‘Just as he is,’ I thought to myself: bare head, beaded with fog-dew, ancient oilskin coat (only one button); grey jersey; grey woollen trousers (like a deep-sea fisherman’s) stuffed into long boots. A vision of his antitype, the Cowes Philanderer, crossed me for a second... he was gripping his dilemma by either horn, as firmly as he gripped his sculls. “
This one will remain a favorite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Have JUST reread this one —in my newly acquired Macmillan Collector’s Library edition. Carruthers’ account of his time aboard Davies’ yacht -the Dulcibella- yet stands as a well crafted piece of writing, a bit of an early 20th Century adventure story of two very young Englishmen who turn spy upon the Kaiser’s Germany - a decade before the First World War.
The writing style’s splendid and clean and reminded me of Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories — with a whole lot of nautical terminology and good natured humor tossed in.
Our heroes:
Carruthers at first presents as a rather superficial and self-absorbed but decidedly fortunate fellow with a worthy position, and Davies a simple down on his luck acquaintance from University days who’s passionately in love with the sea.
Carruthers accepts Davies’ ‘seemingly out of the blue’ invitation for yachting and duck hunting in the Baltic out of boredom, not because he hopes to develop any deeper intimacy of friendship with this fellow from Uni days... but then things begin to surface.
“...deep misgiving stirred me that, clever as I thought myself, nicely perceptive of the right and congenial men to know, I had made some big mistakes—how many, I wondered? ... little as I deserved it, the patient fates were offering me a golden chance of repairing at least one.”
Carruthers begins to see differently ... deeper ... with the help of the sea and he thinks , “You’re so casual and quiet in the extraordinary things you do.”
Whether there’s a Dulcibella moment in our own lives, or a Davies who invites us into a deeper journey, we may have yet to solve the riddle that lies within before the sands slip through.
Sometimes, all it takes for one to begin to search oneself... just to be able to see someone else as simple and beautifully made.
“ ‘Just as he is,’ I thought to myself: bare head, beaded with fog-dew, ancient oilskin coat (only one button); grey jersey; grey woollen trousers (like a deep-sea fisherman’s) stuffed into long boots. A vision of his antitype, the Cowes Philanderer, crossed me for a second... he was gripping his dilemma by either horn, as firmly as he gripped his sculls. “
This one will remain a favorite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Really enjoyable spy book, especially when you consider it historically (setting up the genre etc). Did skim read some bits as it did get very shipping term technical!
A rather slow book to read, guess the writing style is a little old fashioned now. But I loved the narration style, taking the reader right inside the book.
A rather slow book to read, guess the writing style is a little old fashioned now. But I loved the narration style, taking the reader right inside the book.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I could have used less sands (intricate details about boat manoeuvres around the Frisian islands) and more riddle (spy mystery).
To be honest, I only read half of it... not because I didn't like it, but because there was no time. Might consider re-reading it in the future... maybe.
It was quite interesting to read which inspired the modern espionage books.
According to Mark Valentine, he ranked it in the top five spy stories of the 20th century, along with Buchan's The 39 Steps, Conrad's The Secret Agent Somerset Maugham's Ashenden and the now unjustly overlooked Bretherton, a Great War tale by Major W.F. Morris.
This was the only fiction book written by Childers who was unfaithful charged by treason since he was found in possession of a firearm - a capital offense by the Irish government at that time, even if it was only a souvenir, a miniature pistol given him by Michael Collins!
By irony of the destiny, his eldest son became the fourth President of Ireland.
A memorable book with plenty of intrigue dealing with the threat of invasion of Britain by the Germans.
According to Mark Valentine, he ranked it in the top five spy stories of the 20th century, along with Buchan's The 39 Steps, Conrad's The Secret Agent Somerset Maugham's Ashenden and the now unjustly overlooked Bretherton, a Great War tale by Major W.F. Morris.
This was the only fiction book written by Childers who was unfaithful charged by treason since he was found in possession of a firearm - a capital offense by the Irish government at that time, even if it was only a souvenir, a miniature pistol given him by Michael Collins!
By irony of the destiny, his eldest son became the fourth President of Ireland.
A memorable book with plenty of intrigue dealing with the threat of invasion of Britain by the Germans.
Very much of its era (early 1900's) so the style is peppered with expressions like "by Jove, Carruthers!" Some excellent descriptions of small-boat sailing, but other passages are as tortuous as the channels our two heroes must navigate. The book was no doubt ground-breaking in its time as one of the first spy novels, and prescient in its predictions of conflict between Germany and Great Britain more than a decade before the outbreak of the First World War. A spiffing read for sailors and for aficionados of the 'decent, British chaps' school of adventures, but just a little turgid for my taste.