The Riddle of the Sands & In the Ranks of the C.I.V

by Erskine Childers, Shayne (Editor)

Welcome to my presentation of two of Erskine Childers best known novels. The first of the pair is 'The Riddle of the Sands', written by Childers who, at that time, was suspicious of Germany and feared invasion. The book does demonstrate the weakness of the North Sea defences, which were in fact strengthened before the outbreak of World War One. Our two main characters Carruthers and Davies are at the opposite ends of the then social spectrum but come together to try to find evidence of German intentions in the area of the Frisian Islands. Although the book is an excellent read it is better read in the knowledge of the fears that Childers had with regard to German invasion.'In the Ranks of the C.I.V.' is a perfect partner to our previous book. It is the personal diary of an ordinary soldier in the Boer war. What makes this book so fascinating is that the soldier was Childers himself. He was later to serve in the RNAS and the RAF where he reached the rank of Major. It was during this time that he was to be awarded the DSC.Sadly, after his military career he entered into Irish republicanism. His sad end came in November 1922 when he was executed for treason

617 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2011

About the author

Robert Erskine Childers DSC, universally known as Erskine Childers, was the author of the influential novel The Riddle of the Sands and an Irish nationalist who smuggled guns to Ireland in his sailing yacht Asgard. He was executed by the authorities of the nascent Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War in 1922. He was the son of British Orientalist scholar Robert Caesar Childers; the cousin of Hugh Childers and Robert Barton; and the father of the fourth President of Ireland, Erskine Hamilton Childers.

Childers was a Boer War veteran and was called back to active duty at the start of World War One.

Reviews

[Occhi Aperti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. This is one of the earliest spy thrillers. Two Englishmen, who have not seen each other for a long time, explore the Frisian Coast by yacht to find out what nefarious scheme a group of Germans and an English Expat are cooking up. The book has many nautical and yachting terms that make the adventure authentic, but these are not easy for an average reader to appreciate. The novel is a good read, especially when the two amateurs come face-to-face with their adversaries. You can see how this novel would have inspired James Bond and other spy stories that came later. However, the reader needs patience for all the mucking about in the Frisian sands and poor weather. The real life of Erskine Childers is even more fascinating than this book.

[Mario Hinksman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is one to which the old cliche 'ripping yarn' might perhaps be applied. It was written in 1903 and is certainly 'of its time' in terms of the basic situation of two young men from relatively privileged British backgrounds having time and opportunity to spend hiding out in a small yacht off the north German coast proclaiming 'By Jove' at moments of surprise or decision !
It is also of its time in terms of a new Germany on the rise and two fine British chaps seeking to uncover their dastardly plans !
Whether that premise appeals or not, it is certainly a well written story of daring do. Most strongly it evokes a mysterious landscape of islands, sands and tides off the north coast of Germany at the turn of the twentieth century as autumn moves towards winter. Traditional generally honest Frisian peasants are starting to encounter wealthier and more sophisticated newcomers who are coming to the sands for health and more nefarious reasons. The small yacht that the Englishmen Carruthers and Davies find themselves in is at the mercy of rising and falling tides and atmospheric pressures. The landscape can be transformed from passable sea to impassable sand within a few short hours.

Childers' writing captures a time and a place little over a century ago but in many ways it seems another planet, almost fantastical. And yet the overall premise is a real one: Germany as an emerging superpower is not fully recognised in the corridors of power in other nations who will face it on the battlefield in little over a decade. Germany and Britain are two nations with many connections, indeed it is not always clear in this story who is German and who is British. Britain feels secure as an island with little in the way of domestic defensive naval infrastructure while it focuses on a global empire. It could potentially be a sitting duck, which is apt as Carruthers and Davies purport to be on a duck hunting holiday !

This novel is described as the first spy novel and that might be so. The two Englishmen are daring young amateurs while the Germans have sophistication, charm and cunning. There is mystery over Herr Dollman who sails the area in his large yacht and may have attempted to kill Davies while he is was sailing alone. Dollman has a beautiful enigmatic daughter. All may not be as it seems !

It is difficult to detach the story from the astonishing life story of its author: Mayfair born to Anglo-Irish parents, standing as a Liberal candidate for Parliament, becoming increasingly sympathetic to Irish home rule, serving Britain in both the Boer War the First World War, joining the Royal Air Force before becoming involved with Irish factions fighting for Irish independence. Childers met his end before a British firing squad in Ireland. His son, 16 at the time, went onto be President of Ireland.

This novel therefore is part of Childers legacy before his own life was cut short in conflict. I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in the period of history immediately preceding WWI as well as the wider context of Anglo-Irish history.

[Carl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must of learned about this book from an article in the Economist. Ok, but not something I'd recommend.