The Riddle of the Sands

By: Erskine Childers

Narrated by: Patrick Tull

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The time is 1903. Carruthers, on leave from Britain's Foreign Service, accepts an invitation from his friend, Davies, to sail around the Baltic. But Davies has a secret mission. He has run afoul of a secret German invasion plot and persuades Carruthers to push into unknown waters with him to find out what it is the Germans are hiding before it is too late. The Riddle of the Sands is considered the first modern espionage story. It is the only novel written by Erskine Childers, an Intelligence Officer for the Royal Navy during World War I, a decorated soldier, and a suspected double agent and mastermind of the rebellion against the young Irish Free State.

Public Domain (P)1988 Recorded Books, Inc.

the gold standard

The best spy novel I've ever read, and one of the best sea stories to boot. The author (executed by a firing squad--what a credential!) didn't set out to write an entertainment, he wanted to alert the British public to what he thought was a terrible threat (I won't give it away). To get the message to the most possible people, Childers had to come up with a story that was un-put-downable, and in so doing he came up with many of the narrative devices that make the modern thriller thrilling. One guy I know keeps four or five copies on his bookshelf at all times to give away.

Bully

Wonderful narrator of a great maritime yarn.
Reviews require 15 words twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen

You need a map !

I used a detailed map of the Friesan Islands to follow the adventures and route of Davies and Carruthers. For me, it really brought the story to life and greatly enhanced my listening experience. It also prepared me for a clear understanding of the explanations for the exploration/discovery exercise in the epilogue.
It was a very enjoyable story and a superb narrator.

Another great read by Patrick Tull

Patrick Tull famed of the Aubrey-Maturin series and the Cadfael series sparkles in this book which needed his help. I suppose reading it with the maps might help, which I assume were in the print version. the book is clearly propaganda from the post Victorian era, but the most overt is in the epilogue. despite criticism from others about the quality of the recording, I found no problems.

Riddle of the Sands

This is without a doubt the best spy novel ever written. It could only have been done by one who "was there." I have given many copies to friends over the years and have read it several times myself. I never tire of this story and intend to visit all the places it covers some day. You have to listen!

The recording is perfectly fine

I hesitated purchasing this book before based on the reviews on the quality of the recoding. The quality is fine and the narration by Patrick Tall is superb, as always. Great read!

Cannot be understood

I was so excited to find this title available from Audio, but I found the narrator's heavy British accent and speed of reading totally incomprehensible. I tried listening to it off my ipod, on the computer and on CD. None of them allowed me to get my "ears" adjusted to the reader - so that I could follow the story. I have listened to over 100 books on audio and this is the only one that I have had to give up on due to the narrator. Oh well, I will just read the book.

technical difficulty is fatal

I really wanted to hear Patrick Tull read this alleged masterpiece, but the sound was so bad I couldn't follow it. I understand the Burton Jouney to Mecca and Medina is being remixed, and I hope this one can be next. This is one of the greatest readers of the sport -- as those who've heard him read the Patrick O'Brien novels well know.

Poor Audio Quality

As a five year customer of Audible, I have to say this book is of the poorest quality. Find another production of this book. As another reader wrote, this is the only Audible book I have had to give up on due to audio quality.

Sound quality dooms this reading

Please, please remix this to improve the audio quality. Patrick Tull is my favorite narrator and the Riddle of the Sands is a great read. I also started this several times, even slowing the playback on iPod. It did not help.