RE: The Riddle of the Date (RE Good Reads, Bad Reads)

Krumpe, Andrew (Andrew.Krumpe@NeslabInstruments.com)
Fri, 4 Dec 1998 08:24:55 -0500

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West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
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I believe Mr. Brownell and I are both mistaken as to the year in which
"The Riddle of the Sands" is set. I did say 1890 while I meant to say
the 1890's. In the preface, the author does indeed say that his friend
'Carruthers' visited him in October, 1902 and described his adventures.
However, the story takes place in October of some year - this much we
know because Carruthers journal entries are from October, and (without
giving away part of the plot) October 25th is the date of an important
rendezvous of German officials. It is doubtful that Carruthers made it
back to England by the end of October. Now, further on in the preface,
the author says that upon their return, Carruthers and Davies
immediately transmitted the results of their spying to British
authorities where they believed proper action would be taken. After a
while (the book doesn't indicate how long) they realized that no
official actions were to be taken, so they (actually
Carruthers)approached the author for advice about publishing their
adventures.

So the actual year of story is never indicated. Perhaps Mr. Brownell can
further research it and solve The Riddle of the Date...

Andy Krumpe
WWP 19 #819

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<snip>

In October last (1902), my friend 'Carruthers' visited me in my
chambers,
and, under a provisional pledge of secrecy, told me frankly the whole of

the adventure described in these pages. Till then I had only known as
much
as the rest of his friends, namely, that he had recently undergone
experiences during a yachting cruise with a certain Mr 'Davies' which
had
left a deep mark on his character and habits.

-- From the Preface to the Original Edition of _The Riddle of the Sands_

Erskine Childers' Edwardian thriller, from which this brief quotation is

taken, was set in 1902, and not in 1890, as suggested in Andy Krumpe's
recent note. Anyone curious about the book can find the full text
on-line
at the Eldritch Press <http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/index.html>.

As interesting as _The Riddle_ is, however -- and it is a remarkable
period
piece, if not necessarily 'THE classic spy thriller' -- the story of the

author's life is more fascinating still. How many novelists have turned

gun-runner and ended their days before a firing squad, after all? And
how
many men about to be shot would have the presence of mind to say to
their
executioners, 'Come closer, boys. It will be easier for you'?

Childers was such a man.

Forrest Brownell

South Colton NY
forrest@slic.com