[books 2009] Edwardian Adventure
Feb. 1st, 2009 08:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inulro6. Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
An early spy novel, published in 1903. I was really looking forward to this and was sadly disappointed. Part of it is personal to me - I can't stand nautical themed things, and far too much of it is taken up with the technicalities of sailing their little yacht around the shifting sand banks of the Frisian islands. Having said that, I do think that there really is too much sailing detail and far too little spying. The whole thing is propaganda to wake the British nation up to the threat of a German invasion, yet the author has a great deal of respect for the Germans as a nation and as individuals. Interesting, especially given the publication date.
Well written, but Not My Thing at all.
7. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
I wasn't going to count this because it's so short, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. I was in school when I last read it, and was reminded of its existence by the television version over the Christmas period. (Which, though very entertaining, bore not a lot of resemblance to the book).
Tons of fun, very little to it. Thoroughly recommended.
An early spy novel, published in 1903. I was really looking forward to this and was sadly disappointed. Part of it is personal to me - I can't stand nautical themed things, and far too much of it is taken up with the technicalities of sailing their little yacht around the shifting sand banks of the Frisian islands. Having said that, I do think that there really is too much sailing detail and far too little spying. The whole thing is propaganda to wake the British nation up to the threat of a German invasion, yet the author has a great deal of respect for the Germans as a nation and as individuals. Interesting, especially given the publication date.
Well written, but Not My Thing at all.
7. The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan
I wasn't going to count this because it's so short, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. I was in school when I last read it, and was reminded of its existence by the television version over the Christmas period. (Which, though very entertaining, bore not a lot of resemblance to the book).
Tons of fun, very little to it. Thoroughly recommended.
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no subject
Date: 2009-02-02 09:19 am (UTC)He's not as bad as some others of his period though - just try Bulldog Drummond.