The Spanish Cave

by Geoffrey Household

It was only one of the many caves along that particular part of the Atlantic coast of northern Spain. Dick Garland had explored lots of them, but not the Cave of the Angels. His Spanish friends were evasive about that one grotto, and when the young countess Lola dared him to spend the night there alone, he had to accept the challenge.

As a result, Dick's entire life was to change, because there was something in the cave--something improbable, overwhelming and terrifying--and it very nearly cost not only Dick's life, but that of his older brother, of Lola, and of some of the finest seafaring men in all Asturias!

[Originally published in 1936 as The Terror of the Villadonga.]

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1936

About the author

British author of mostly thrillers, though among 37 books he also published children's fiction. Household's flight-and-chase novels, which show the influence of John Buchan, were often narrated in the first person by a gentleman-adventurer. Among his best-know works is' Rogue Male' (1939), a suggestive story of a hunter who becomes the hunted, in 1941 filmed by Fritz Lang as 'Man Hunt'. Household's fast-paced story foreshadowed such international bestsellers as Richard Condon's thriller 'The Manchurian Candidate' (1959), Frederick Forsyth's 'The Day of the Jackal' (1971), and Ken Follett's 'Eye of the Needle' (1978) .

In 1922 Household received his B.A. in English from Magdalen College, Oxford, and between 1922 and 1935 worked in commerce abroad, moving to the US in 1929. During World War II, Household served in the Intelligence Corps in Romania and the Middle East. After the War he lived the life of a country gentleman and wrote. In his later years, he lived in Charlton, near Banbury, Oxfordshire, and died in Wardington.

Household also published an autobiography, 'Against the Wind' (1958), and several collections of short stories, which he himself considered his best work.

Reviews

[Terry Mulcahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the storyline is overly simplified for very young adults, there is a wealth of detail, including descriptions of the Spanish coastline, fishing culture, and peoples' clothing, politics and religions in an earlier time that was not so innocent, and no less dangerous.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dick Garland is a very self-sufficient and capable twelve-year-old English boy living with his adult brother on the coast of Northern Spain. One day Dick becomes intrigued by a strange, secluded cave on the beach where, centuries ago, the locals erected a statue of Saint Andrew. Soon he finds signs that the cave may be inhabited by a dangerous and ancient creature.

Originally published in 1936 as The Terror of the Villadonga, Geoffrey Household's first novel is a wonderful juvenile adventure story. Though the book is aimed at a readership aged about 10-14, I came at it more than 20 years past that, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Unlike some contemporary kid lit, this novel does not talk down to the reader, nor is it cluttered with pop culture-influenced attitudes and ephemera. This is a true unsung classic of young adult literature and a perfect read for kids who enjoy anything from the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew to the adventure novels of Robert Louis Stevenson.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plus a half star. Written the year before I was born [no actually written under another name in 1936]. And beautifully written. The ending lets it down but up to that point it's a tight adventure and coming of age tale. I remember it being almost unbearably sad what happens to the Plesiosaur, but as a teenager I accepted a somehow inevitable battle between the people and the beast. Now I am very uncomfortable with the outcome and the failure of imagination of both the characters and the author.

[Emma Bannenberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another horribly dated Puffin. The characterisation of the British as clever and the Spanish as childlike, the men as brave and the women as caring, the girl sexually attractive aged 12 and the boy as a smart, heroic and manly figure aged 15, who ignores his emotions in favour of instinctive action - tells me all I need to know about the way my elder brothers who read this book when they were in their teens viewed the world and their place in it. Entitlement and agency writ large for boys. Service, emotional support and sexual availability the fate of the female characters. Plus the blokes of course have to kill what is essentially the worlds last surviving dinosaur, rather than respect and preserve it. There is a meta narrative here about white, British, male dominion over nature, women and the rights of preserving culture and history. No wonder it was thrilling for boys to be boys. Glad that’s over.

[Tammie Groeneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! It has Jurassic Park qualities from the 1930's when kid's books were meaty and interestingly written. There are some beautiful passages and such good imagery you can really feel like you're there. The characters and story line are quite believable. This was a very enjoyable pool-side read.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 3 out of 5]

C+. children's fiction, grade 4, mystery, adventure, Asturias, nautical terms, mom's stash, keep

[Carol & Russell]

my son liked it. he did not want to put it down.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great children's book from the 1950s I found buried up in the attic. It has things that get lost today in the book melee- loyalty, courage, honesty and kindness and a great plot!

[Kit]

Read quite a while ago! Found it in the attic of my mom's friend's grandmother. I think it's the 1948 edition. Smells like old book! Also, I don't remember what it's about.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

my youngest read too and we both liked. i thought at first little slow.

[Richard Uherka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had a copy of this novel for over 50 years, I've re-read it many times. Somehow I keep transposing it in my memories to South America, but that's irrelevant really. Dick is a boy who lives with his older brother after his parents died, his brother works in a small Spanish village cut off from the rest of the world by mountains and sea. Our MC is a young British boy right in that age between when the opposite sex is "icky" and alluring, and then there's Lola, a Spanish girl his own age descended from ancient local nobility. During one of their encounters where he's trying to show off his bravery, Lola dares him to spend the night in the local "haunted" cave, only for him to discover that there is something actually in the cave that is terrifying. When Dick discovers that it's threatening the life of Lola he has to gather his courage and face the terror. It's an odd little adventure novel. Not very long, perhaps 200 pages. But I've always found it enjoyable to re-read it. It's an adventure/horror novel meant for younger people but still enjoyable I think by adults. The premise is of course entirely improbably, but still a fun concept.

Note that another review tries to put this book in the worst possible light: Lola is described as a "sexually active and available 12 year old." That is actually not true. At the very end of the novel during a celebration after the "demon" has been killed she announces that she is willing to marry Dick someday. Otherwise, she enjoys sunbathing - in a suit, big deal. Besides Dick and Hal the rest of the cast are Spanish with a few Portuguese mixed in. They are depicted as fun-loving and loyal, also clever with a streak of respect towards those around them even when they are arguing, with a few old-world superstitions. To be noted it's officially listed as published in 1963, but seems to have been published under a different name in 1936. Old moralities aren't necessarily monstrous.

I've read this book probably a half dozen or dozen times since I got it. I have a 4th printing with the "demon" on the cover. Finale note: just finished re-reading it. My copy shows it's age sadly, needs a bit of love to put it back to rights.

[Rosalind Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 1936. This shows, not least in the style of the writing which is fine and restrained, perhaps a little too much so for the patience of modern-day readers. This is no criticism of the author however. This is an exciting adventure story set in northern Spain centred on the discovery of one of the last surviving plesiosaurs and the quest of a group of adventurers, including the young Dick Garland, to hunt it and, sadly, to kill it so as to make the local coastline safe for seafarers and fishermen. One has to read it as belonging very much to its time and place and not take umbrage at what some might regard as outmoded manners and excessive heroism. It's an exciting read, a plausible adventure, and its main female character, the condesa's indomitable twelve-year-old daughter, is more than just an excuse to add a sprinkling of romance into the mix: she has a real and important part to play. If I were a middle-grade teacher, I would like to read this book with my class. It is so finely written and there is so much to think about and discuss - not least the sad life and tragic death of the plesiosaur - that I think it would be a really valuable exercise.

[Garick Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the other reviews here have pretty much covered the gamut of opinion on this novel, so I will be brief. This is the third book I have read by Geoffrey Household (the others were Rogue Male and Dance of the Dwarfs, both good reads). I feel pretty safe in saying that the "mystery" is given away on the cover of most of the editions I have seen, including the Scholastic edition, which is the one I read. Thankfully, there is more to it than that. First published in 1936, Household's first novel is fast-paced and well-written. Household obviously knew the terrain and the people of the remote Spanish coastline he is describing, and both are detailed with affection. Although the British boy Dick Garland is the viewpoint character, he is at every turn educated, rescued, and shielded (sometimes literally) by his Spanish and Basque elders; they are the real heroes of this tale.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great. Household style came through.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that reminded me of the books I read in middle school. Highly recommended for the young and adventurous.

[Lazy tea writer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. Would live to read more books like this.