Robert Erskine Childers Bücher

Die zwei Engländer Carruthers und Davies kreuzen auf einer kleinen Jacht durch das deutsche Wattenmeer zwischen Elbe- und Emsmündung und geraten dabei in den Strudel geheimnisvoller und gefährlicher Ereignisse: Was als harmloses Segelabenteuer beginnt, führt bald in die Welt der internationalen Spionage, denn kurz nach 1900 rüsten England und Deutschland im Flottenbereich um die Wette. Die Geschichte einer Seglerfreundschaft und einer unerfüllten Liebe. Und der erste Spionageroman der Weltliteratur.

Set against the backdrop of the tense years leading up to the First World War, this early spy novel follows two young men on a sailing holiday who uncover a German plot to invade England. The protagonist, Carruthers, is a disillusioned civil servant struggling with the monotony of his life in London. When he joins his adventurous college friend, Davies, for a sailing trip in the Baltic, Carruthers begins to find purpose as he learns the intricacies of seamanship. Their journey takes a thrilling turn as they stumble upon a conspiracy that heightens the tension of their adventure. The narrative captures the atmosphere of suspicion prevalent during that era, making it a significant work in British spy fiction. Accompanied by an insightful introduction, this edition places the novel within its political and historical context, highlighting its enduring relevance and the meticulous detail that solidifies its status as a classic in the genre.

"The Riddle of the Sands: A Record of Secret Service is a 1903 novel by Erskine Childers. The book, which enjoyed immense popularity in the years before World War I, is an early example of the espionage novel and was extremely influential in the genre of spy fiction. It has been made into feature-length films for both cinema and television.