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

Forrest Brownell (forrest@slic.com)
Thu, 03 Dec 1998 16:55:08 -0500

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
West Wight Potter Website at URL
http://www.lesbois.com/wwpotter/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
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