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mtb_za's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Eh. Not too bad, apart from the perfect hero, whom the damsel immediately falls for. I feel like this pales in comparison to something like the 39 Steps.
The independently wealthy officers being against the 'Bolshevisation' of England is of course no surprise, but there is absolutely no nuance to their point of view at all.
The 'native' with a blowgun in the Ritz in Paris is also an interesting characterisation of the French, but I doubt that that is actually intentional so much as idiotic.
The independently wealthy officers being against the 'Bolshevisation' of England is of course no surprise, but there is absolutely no nuance to their point of view at all.
The 'native' with a blowgun in the Ritz in Paris is also an interesting characterisation of the French, but I doubt that that is actually intentional so much as idiotic.
dyslexzak's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Bond who?
Drummond is the British male role model we need in the world.
I’ll tell you what sold me. On the first page, this paragraph: “Demobilised officer finding peace incredibly tedious, would welcome diversion. Legitimate, if possible; but crime, if of a comparatively humorous description, no objection. Excitement essential.”
Drummond, like many soldiers coming home, finds it hard to acclimatise to normal life. He misses the structure, excitement, challenge, and camaraderie of war. But he doesn’t sit broodingly, he asks for help in the most masculine way possible. By offering it to others.
I could go on, but just read it. Great book.
Drummond is the British male role model we need in the world.
I’ll tell you what sold me. On the first page, this paragraph: “Demobilised officer finding peace incredibly tedious, would welcome diversion. Legitimate, if possible; but crime, if of a comparatively humorous description, no objection. Excitement essential.”
Drummond, like many soldiers coming home, finds it hard to acclimatise to normal life. He misses the structure, excitement, challenge, and camaraderie of war. But he doesn’t sit broodingly, he asks for help in the most masculine way possible. By offering it to others.
I could go on, but just read it. Great book.
lgpiper's review against another edition
3.0
A British WWI vet gets bored and places an ad in the paper asking for adventure. A beautiful young woman answers the ad and gets Drummond involved in rather a mess. This is pretty much like Hardy Boys for adults. Lots of action that isn't very well thought out before hand. The protagonist is constantly in danger of being snuffed out, but the bad guys keep putting off his demise, which allows him to escape continually, only to get back into danger a short time later. It's all rather silly, but makes for ok, if mindless, reading.
aliceandthegiantbookshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
grandgranini's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably the most racist and sexist book I've read so far. After the first world war, a bored ex-soldier puts an ad in the paper looking for adventure and discovers a vast conspiracy for a communist uprising in England. The good guys fight the bad guys until the latter are quite gruesomely dispatched. The first time I heard of Bulldog Drummond was in Alan Moore's "Black Dossier" (I think he might have been the uncle of Emma Peel of the Avengers) and he is even more repulsively misogynist than Ian Fleming's James Bond. This was so much fun that I finished it in one sitting. Highly recommended.
malumbra's review against another edition
5.0
Holy cow what a fun book. How has this not been made into a movie this decade??
lnatal's review
3.0
From BBC Radia 4 Extra:
After the Great War, demobbed Army officer Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond finds peacetime tedious, so advertises his services to anyone offering adventure – hopefully legitimate and with excitement guaranteed. His wishes are quickly answered when he finds himself in the company of the most dangerous man in England.
After the Great War, demobbed Army officer Captain Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond finds peacetime tedious, so advertises his services to anyone offering adventure – hopefully legitimate and with excitement guaranteed. His wishes are quickly answered when he finds himself in the company of the most dangerous man in England.
lucyb's review
3.0
This influential classic doesn't take itself too seriously, but there's also no apparent breath of irony in its earnest chronicle of Bulldog Drummond, who posts that fateful (and now iconic) advertisement: 'Demobilised officer… finding peace incredibly tedious, would welcome diversion.' Drummond himself is likably humorous, ditto his motley crew of fellow-soldiers, -boxers, -clubmen, and good sports who take on a gang of international criminals, complete with evil mastermind. Hijinks ensue.
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