The Riddle of the Sands

Erskine Childers (1870 - 1922)

Containing many realistic details based on Childers' own sailing trips along the German North Sea coast, the book is the retelling of a yachting expedition in the early 20th century combined with an adventurous spy story.

It was one of the early invasion novels which predicted war with Germany and called for British preparedness. The plot involves the uncovering of secret German preparations for an invasion of the United Kingdom. It is often called the first modern spy novel, although others are as well, it was certainly very influential in the genre and for its time.

The book enjoyed immense popularity in the years before World War I and was extremely influential. Winston Churchill later credited it as a major reason that the Admiralty decided to establish naval bases at Invergordon, the Firth of Forth and Scapa Flow. (Summary from Wikipedia)

Genre(s): Suspense, Espionage, Political & Thrillers, War & Military Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface Gesine
00:05:52
Play 01 The Letter Gesine
00:18:09
Play 02 The Dulcibella Gesine
00:32:56
Play 03 Davies Gesine
00:25:05
Play 04 Retrospect Gesine
00:19:23
Play 05 Wanted, a North Wind Gesine
00:21:03
Play 06 Schlei Fiord Gesine
00:17:48
Play 07 The Missing Page Gesine
00:29:31
Play 08 The Theory Gesine
00:28:04
Play 09 I Sign Articles Gesine
00:20:37
Play 10 His Chance Gesine
00:18:59
Play 11 The Pathfinders Gesine
00:20:34
Play 12 My Initiation Gesine
00:24:53
Play 13 The Meaning of our Work Gesine
00:13:11
Play 14 The First Night in the Islands Gesine
00:19:53
Play 15 Bensersiel Gesine
00:17:32
Play 16 Commander von Bruening Gesine
00:32:22
Play 17 Clearing the Air Gesine
00:27:37
Play 18 Imperial Escort Gesine
00:14:25
Play 19 The Rubicon Gesine
00:32:44
Play 20 The Little Drab Book Gesine
00:26:54
Play 21 Blindfold to Memmert Gesine
00:35:12
Play 22 The Quartette Gesine
00:29:51
Play 23 A Change of Tactics Gesine
00:31:43
Play 24 Finesse Gesine
00:36:27
Play 25 I Double Back Gesine
00:29:34
Play 26 The Seven Siels Gesine
00:31:16
Play 27 The Luck of the Stowaway Gesine
00:36:46
Play 28 We Achieve our Double Aim Gesine
00:20:57
Play 29 Epilogue and Postscript Gesine
00:25:14