Riddle of the Sands

[StugeronSteve]

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I have only just got round to reading Erskine Childers' masterpiece, couldn't put it down.

If there is anyone else out there that hasn't read it, do so soon.

 

[Parsonsheath]

Be careful, it is addictive.

I started off with that book, then ended up hunting down a video of the film, problem there was I got an illegal copy! Illegal only as they had withdrawn the video when they had to have it reclassified, and the cost was not economic.

Then on to "The Riddle of Erskine Childers", again really good stuff. Probably relevant no one sure if he was spying for the Brits (while working at the centre of government) or the Irish.

Seems very topical given the recent press on Arthur Ransome.

 

[mirabriani]

As it is alleged Arthur Ransome was a Russian spy
No doubt there will soon be similar attacks on Erskine Childers
Beware the hidden messages

Regards Briani

 

[Gunfleet]

[ QUOTE ]
As it is alleged Arthur Ransome was a Russian spy
No doubt there will soon be similar attacks on Erskine Childers


[/ QUOTE ]
He was executed for gun running for the IRA!

 

[Guest]

Who alleged that AR was a Russian spy and why? OK, I know that he was a correspondent in Russia, and wife was Trotsky's secretary, but... In fact, having a wife associated with Trotsky, the arch "enemy of the people", would, I would have thought, made it even less likely he was a spy, but I'm curious where the idea comes from.

As for Erskine, I'm afraid I haven't read his (detailed) biography, but being shot by as an alleged traitor, while not conclusive, is not really a normal thing to happen to the average man on the street, is it?

 

[Swagman]

Quite normal if you walk the streets of Iraq, I understand.

 

[StephenSails]

Fantastic book and the film isnt to bad either.

 

[Cornishman]

It ought to be required reading for every Yachtmaster® candidate

 

[StugeronSteve]

[ QUOTE ]
It ought to be required reading for every Yachtmaster® candidate

[/ QUOTE ] Agreed! Just imagining the skill required without GPS/Decca/Echo sounder etc, is enough to set the head spinning.

 

[mirabriani]

Yes I had forgotten that......
except it must have been still in my head
as a sub liminal.....gosh, its happening!

Briani

 

[Nickel]

He was an honourable heroic freedom fighter! He did gun run arms to the IRA on board his yacht the Asgard, but he was actually executed by an Irish Free State Firing Squad after mounting a rather fierce anti-treaty campaign for Dev's lot, and then making the mistake of being caught with a pistol in his possession.

A tragic loss. Just one of many in the Irish Civil War.

 

[webcraft]

Agree - it's enough to make the average E. coast creek crawler's hair stand on end. Talk about blind navigation . . . and as for tidal height calculations . . .

If you haven't got a copy and want to have a look at it you can find it online HERE

- Nick

 

[trouville]

Thats fantastic!! Thats the very first E-Chart that displays without spending £700 on a special system that will be obsoleat next year!

Ill take a copy of this emap to navigate those islands!! Feel just like a mac useing MOBO if i do that!

 

[jenku]

Oh, don't get excited about those old charts, as the Friesian Islands are quite better covered here http://j.neostrada.pl/mapy/ . I thought it was the Baltic you were looking for... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Guest]

[ QUOTE ]
He was an honourable heroic freedom fighter!

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean, like Mata Hari?

 

[Viking]

Great book. I keep re-reading it. Luck enough to have an very early edition. Had to photo copy the maps and blow them up to follow the plot.
Thanks 'webcraft' those on that website are much clear! Ta!

 

[Nickel]

No, strangely very unlike Mata Hari, as I don't really recall the majority of Frenchman wanting to be liberated by the Germans /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

For all that I loved the Riddle of the Sands, Childers own life is actually more interesting and exciting - worth reading about.

 

[alan_d]

Different people get different things out of the book.

My youngest daughter read it recently and thought it captured perfectly what she disliked about sailing - cold, damp, cramped accommodation, unpleasant motion, strange noises in the night etc. etc.

Alan

 

[mattw]

According to the forward(by Geoffrey Household) "He was described by Winston Churchill as showing deadly and malignant hatred for England", yet the night before he was shot he wrote to his wife saying, "I die loving England". Apparently he shook hands with each member of the firing squad and said, "Take a step or two closer lads, it'll be easier that way".

 

[TFJ]

Incidently, the film 'Riddle of the sands' was directed by Drummond Chalis who had 'Light Blue' built (YM 38), he was on the round Britain rally when I was
Just a bit of useless info