The Riddle of the Sands

I decided to give this four stars because it somehow managed to interest me and keep me reading in spite of being the dullest book I have read in a year, so the author deserves kudos. Purporting by its frame of introduction and appendix to be a lightly disguised work of nonfiction, The Riddle of the Sands is a plea for England to be more careful to guard her North Sea shores from a possible naval invasion by Germany. I really liked the main character's change from whiny and useless socialite to tough and capable sailor and spy. I did not enjoy the endless wandering and wondering, nor do I care much for military tactics. But Childers did such a great job of putting me in the boat with Caruthers and Davies that I could smell the ocean and feel the waves. I could see the tide going out and the sand emerging from under the waves. I felt the storms and got a tiny bit sea sick at one point. The plot was dull and the point outdated and meaningless, but what a great job of telling the story! I enjoyed it in spite of everything it had going against it.