Described by Ken Follett as "the first modern thriller", The Riddle of the Sands
is the best-known sailing narrative and a true classic. It was recently
ranked 37th in The Observer''s list of the 100 Greatest Novels of the
past 300 years. Winston Churchill even credited it for the Admiralty''s
decision to build naval bases in Scapa Flow, Invergordon and Rosyth.
Following
in the adventurous tradition of H Rider Haggard, and being a clear
influence on the espionage tales of John Buchan, Ian Fleming and John
le Carré, The Riddle of the Sands
tells the story of two young men on a sailing trip to the islands off
the Dutch coast who discover a secret German naval base, and an enemy
armada preparing to invade England.
With its prescient plotline and patriotic call for the nation to prepare against its foreign foes, The Riddle of the Sands
has remained enduringly popular ever since it was first published in
1903. This new edition includes detailed maps of the Dutch coastline
and evocative black and white photographs of some of the places
Carruthers and Davies visit.
This is an enduring classic, loved
by sailors and non-sailors alike, and its new illustrative material
will be welcomed by readers following the storyline.
