[bolger] Re: Interesting reading
"The Riddle of the Sands" is a "ripping good yarn" while being an
"historical artifact".
From a sailor's point of view, the book is a technical closeup of shoal
draft cruising at the turn of the last century. It must have seemed wacko to
his fellow sailors who were into those deep draft narrow cutters. I like the
rowing sequence where the hero navigates his rowboat through the fog for
many miles.
For the land lubbers, the long discussuion of why nations go to war is good
reading.
--
Meyer
"historical artifact".
From a sailor's point of view, the book is a technical closeup of shoal
draft cruising at the turn of the last century. It must have seemed wacko to
his fellow sailors who were into those deep draft narrow cutters. I like the
rowing sequence where the hero navigates his rowboat through the fog for
many miles.
For the land lubbers, the long discussuion of why nations go to war is good
reading.
--
Meyer
I had already read "The Riddle of the Sands" when I came across an audio
book on it.
I got so involved with the listening that I mentioned to a friend that they
had included sea gulls and waves as sound effects.
On re-listening we found that there were no additional sounds effects, just
the words from the book.
I have played these tape on many nights while sleeping on board.
--
Jim Stein
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Ravine/1547/
Campus Manager Echuca Campus
Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE
Lat. 36.08S Lon. 144.45E
Dudley Pope Mailing List mailto:dudleypope@onelist.com
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book on it.
I got so involved with the listening that I mentioned to a friend that they
had included sea gulls and waves as sound effects.
On re-listening we found that there were no additional sounds effects, just
the words from the book.
I have played these tape on many nights while sleeping on board.
--
Jim Stein
http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Ravine/1547/
Campus Manager Echuca Campus
Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE
Lat. 36.08S Lon. 144.45E
Dudley Pope Mailing List mailto:dudleypope@onelist.com
To Subscribehttp://www.onelist.com/subscribe/dudleypope
"The Riddle of the Sands" is an interesting historical artifact as well as
(one of) the precursors of the "suspense-thriller" genre. It was written in
during an intense Anglo-German naval rivalry and was one of more than a few
of the "war-scare" fictions of the epoch - all variously invoking the spectre
of the sudden descent of the hyper-efficient Prussian army upon the
complacent, unsuspecting inhabitants of England. The protagonist joins a
friend on a pleasure cruise to the Netherlands where they discover secret
preparations of the Prussians to invade England! It take them a while to
sort out the matter. Then they have to somehow communicate the news of the
impending invasion to their innocent countrymen. A tense race ensues in the
treacherous sand bars and channels of the Dutch coast between the their yacht
and a the lee-board Dutch yacht of a nefarious "Dutchman" who seeks to thwart
their mission. (If memory serves, he has a beautiful daughter who figures in
the drama in some manner which I no longer recall). All ends happily, but on
a cautionary note on the needs of "preparedness", if I remember correctly. I
ran across the book many, many years ago while taking a college class on the
origins of the WWI. Not a great piece of literature, but probably much
better than many of its derivatives - e.g. Tom Clancy, et al.
(one of) the precursors of the "suspense-thriller" genre. It was written in
during an intense Anglo-German naval rivalry and was one of more than a few
of the "war-scare" fictions of the epoch - all variously invoking the spectre
of the sudden descent of the hyper-efficient Prussian army upon the
complacent, unsuspecting inhabitants of England. The protagonist joins a
friend on a pleasure cruise to the Netherlands where they discover secret
preparations of the Prussians to invade England! It take them a while to
sort out the matter. Then they have to somehow communicate the news of the
impending invasion to their innocent countrymen. A tense race ensues in the
treacherous sand bars and channels of the Dutch coast between the their yacht
and a the lee-board Dutch yacht of a nefarious "Dutchman" who seeks to thwart
their mission. (If memory serves, he has a beautiful daughter who figures in
the drama in some manner which I no longer recall). All ends happily, but on
a cautionary note on the needs of "preparedness", if I remember correctly. I
ran across the book many, many years ago while taking a college class on the
origins of the WWI. Not a great piece of literature, but probably much
better than many of its derivatives - e.g. Tom Clancy, et al.
It apparently is a considered a "classic" by many small boat/shoal cruising
fans (I heard about it via Woodenboat). Written in 1903, its cross between
a spy sory and a small boat cruise amongst the Frisian Island's of Germany's
north sea coast. Check it out on Amazon, they had a pretty good write up.
Robert & Amy Lundy
St. Petersburg, fla.
robert@...
amy@...
fans (I heard about it via Woodenboat). Written in 1903, its cross between
a spy sory and a small boat cruise amongst the Frisian Island's of Germany's
north sea coast. Check it out on Amazon, they had a pretty good write up.
Robert & Amy Lundy
St. Petersburg, fla.
robert@...
amy@...
> -----Original Message-----
> From:CPCorreia@...[mailto:CPCorreia@...]
> Sent: February 10, 2000 10:28 PM
> To:bolger@egroups.com
> Subject: [bolger] Re: Interesting reading
>
>
> In a message dated 2/8/00 4:59:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>robert@...writes:
>
> << Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of Erskine Childers
> "Riddle of the Sands". >>
>
> Robert,
>
> I was out of town these last four days - what is the afore mentioned book
> about?
>
> Chuck C.
>
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In a message dated 2/8/00 4:59:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,
robert@...writes:
<< Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of Erskine Childers
"Riddle of the Sands". >>
Robert,
I was out of town these last four days - what is the afore mentioned book
about?
Chuck C.
robert@...writes:
<< Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of Erskine Childers
"Riddle of the Sands". >>
Robert,
I was out of town these last four days - what is the afore mentioned book
about?
Chuck C.
The Southern Ocean broaching of the Dutch ship of the line in "Desolation
Island" (I think) is my favorite jaw-dropper. I can't get into rowing 8-10
miles in order to enter a hand-to-hand battle - paraphrasing the carrier
Admiral in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri": "... where did he get these men?".
Don Hodges
Island" (I think) is my favorite jaw-dropper. I can't get into rowing 8-10
miles in order to enter a hand-to-hand battle - paraphrasing the carrier
Admiral in "The Bridges at Toko-Ri": "... where did he get these men?".
Don Hodges
----- Original Message -----
From: Chris Crandall <crandall@...>
To: <bolger@egroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 10:59 AM
Subject: [bolger] Re: Interesting reading
> On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, John Bell wrote:
> > And if you aren't a fan of O'Brian, you owe it to yourself to check
> > out his books. After hearing Bill et. al. go on about the
> > Aubrey/Maturin novels for the last five or six years, I had to see
> > what all the fuss was about. I just finished "Master and Commander"
> > last night. Great fun! I can't wait to get on with the rest of the
> > series.
>
> Norton is still promoting the series, and if you go to their website, you
> can send a *free* copy of Master and Commander to anyone you like.
> Recent books come with a coupon to do same.
>
> You can always send it to your cousin or neighbor, and get the copy sent
> to yourself. The books are really worth reading. One can sensibly think
> of the series as a 20-volume novel. But each one has its own value, and a
> few of them have sequences that are jaw-dropping.
>
>
>
> Chris Crandallcrandall@...(785) 864-4131
> Department of Psychology University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045
> I have data convincingly disconfirming the Duhem-Quine hypothesis.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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>
>
On Tue, 8 Feb 2000, John Bell wrote:
can send a *free* copy of Master and Commander to anyone you like.
Recent books come with a coupon to do same.
You can always send it to your cousin or neighbor, and get the copy sent
to yourself. The books are really worth reading. One can sensibly think
of the series as a 20-volume novel. But each one has its own value, and a
few of them have sequences that are jaw-dropping.
Chris Crandallcrandall@...(785) 864-4131
Department of Psychology University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045
I have data convincingly disconfirming the Duhem-Quine hypothesis.
> And if you aren't a fan of O'Brian, you owe it to yourself to checkNorton is still promoting the series, and if you go to their website, you
> out his books. After hearing Bill et. al. go on about the
> Aubrey/Maturin novels for the last five or six years, I had to see
> what all the fuss was about. I just finished "Master and Commander"
> last night. Great fun! I can't wait to get on with the rest of the
> series.
can send a *free* copy of Master and Commander to anyone you like.
Recent books come with a coupon to do same.
You can always send it to your cousin or neighbor, and get the copy sent
to yourself. The books are really worth reading. One can sensibly think
of the series as a 20-volume novel. But each one has its own value, and a
few of them have sequences that are jaw-dropping.
Chris Crandallcrandall@...(785) 864-4131
Department of Psychology University of Kansas Lawrence, KS 66045
I have data convincingly disconfirming the Duhem-Quine hypothesis.
Here is a non-fiction book that might be of interest. If you ever
wondered what the 'spice islands' really were, this is the book for you.
"Nathaniel's Nutmeg", Giles Milton, pub. by Farrar, Strous & Girous,
May 1999
Subtitle: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader who
change the Course of History
It even has a surprise ending.
Peter
wondered what the 'spice islands' really were, this is the book for you.
"Nathaniel's Nutmeg", Giles Milton, pub. by Farrar, Strous & Girous,
May 1999
Subtitle: Or the True and Incredible Adventures of the Spice Trader who
change the Course of History
It even has a surprise ending.
Peter
In a message dated 02/08/2000 7:56:40 PM Central Standard Time,
jmbell@...writes:
<< Bill et. al. go on about the Aubrey/Maturin novels for the last five or
six years, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I just finished "Master
and Commander" last night. Great fun! I can't wait to get on with the rest of
the series. >>
Alexander Kent & the Richard Bolitho series is pretty goo too...
And don forget Dewey Lamdon's "Alan Lewrey: series too......
Larry
jmbell@...writes:
<< Bill et. al. go on about the Aubrey/Maturin novels for the last five or
six years, I had to see what all the fuss was about. I just finished "Master
and Commander" last night. Great fun! I can't wait to get on with the rest of
the series. >>
Alexander Kent & the Richard Bolitho series is pretty goo too...
And don forget Dewey Lamdon's "Alan Lewrey: series too......
Larry
And if you aren't a fan of O'Brian, you owe it to
yourself to check out his books. After hearing Bill et. al. go on
about the Aubrey/Maturin novels for the last five or six years, I had to
see what all the fuss was about. I just finished "Master and Commander"
last night. Great fun! I can't wait to get on with the rest of the series.
Thanks Bill et. al. for the tip! I'm in your debt.
I'll hope to locate your latest find myself someday.
----- Original Message -----From:Samson familySent:Tuesday, February 08, 2000 3:07 PMSubject:[bolger] Interesting readingHi,I know a lot of you guys are fans of the writings of the late, great Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester.I'll bet you'd enjoy "The Adventures of John Wetherell" (if you haven't already read it) - the diary of a British sailor in the Napoleonic Wars. C.S. Forester edited the diary and it was first published in 1954. A paperback edition appeared in 1994 (Michael Joseph - publisher).I picked up a copy in a remaindered bookstore for a fraction of the cover price.Wetherell writes about his time on 'Hussar' under the tyrannical Capt. Sir Philip Wilkinson, who seemed to like nothing better than to flog a few sailors for an afternoon's amusement. After being shipwrecked, he was a prisoner of war in France for 11 years - His kind treatment at the hands of his enemies is in wonderful contrast to the horrific treatment dished out by his countrymen in the British Navy.His English is odd (to say the least!) but very readable, and reveals a likeable, optimistic young man. Forester points out that Wetherell was never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story, but what's new about that?Highly recommended to aficionados.Bill
I recented bought a second-hand copy of "The Riddle of Erskine Childers",
his biography. His life was no less interesting than the "Riddle of the
Sands". PCB is right about the film.. Except for location and props, it
did little justice to the book.
Meyer
----Original Message-----
From: Robert N. Lundy [mailto:robert@...]
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 11:48 AM
To:bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Re: Interesting reading
Thanks for the tip Bill.
Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of Erskine Childers
"Riddle of the Sands". I'm probably the last one to find out about this,
but it is truly fabulous. A great read while I suffer through the most
miserable Florida winter in the six years I've lived here.
Robert & Amy Lundy
St. Petersburg, fla.
robert@...
amy@...
-----Original Message-----
From: Samson family [mailto:Bill.Samson@...]
Sent: February 08, 2000 3:08 PM
To: 'Bolgerlist';bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Interesting reading
Hi,
I know a lot of you guys are fans of the writings of the late, great Patrick
O'Brian and C.S. Forester.
I'll bet you'd enjoy "The Adventures of John Wetherell" (if you haven't
already read it) - the diary of a British sailor in the Napoleonic Wars.
C.S. Forester edited the diary and it was first published in 1954. A
paperback edition appeared in 1994 (Michael Joseph - publisher).
I picked up a copy in a remaindered bookstore for a fraction of the cover
price.
Wetherell writes about his time on 'Hussar' under the tyrannical Capt. Sir
Philip Wilkinson, who seemed to like nothing better than to flog a few
sailors for an afternoon's amusement. After being shipwrecked, he was a
prisoner of war in France for 11 years - His kind treatment at the hands of
his enemies is in wonderful contrast to the horrific treatment dished out by
his countrymen in the British Navy.
His English is odd (to say the least!) but very readable, and reveals a
likeable, optimistic young man. Forester points out that Wetherell was
never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story, but what's new
about that?
Highly recommended to aficionados.
Bill
--bill.samson@...<mailto:bill.samson@...>
Chebacco News can be viewed on:
http://members.xoom.com/billsamson<http://members.xoom.com/billsamson>
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his biography. His life was no less interesting than the "Riddle of the
Sands". PCB is right about the film.. Except for location and props, it
did little justice to the book.
Meyer
----Original Message-----
From: Robert N. Lundy [mailto:robert@...]
Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2000 11:48 AM
To:bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Re: Interesting reading
Thanks for the tip Bill.
Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of Erskine Childers
"Riddle of the Sands". I'm probably the last one to find out about this,
but it is truly fabulous. A great read while I suffer through the most
miserable Florida winter in the six years I've lived here.
Robert & Amy Lundy
St. Petersburg, fla.
robert@...
amy@...
-----Original Message-----
From: Samson family [mailto:Bill.Samson@...]
Sent: February 08, 2000 3:08 PM
To: 'Bolgerlist';bolger@egroups.com
Subject: [bolger] Interesting reading
Hi,
I know a lot of you guys are fans of the writings of the late, great Patrick
O'Brian and C.S. Forester.
I'll bet you'd enjoy "The Adventures of John Wetherell" (if you haven't
already read it) - the diary of a British sailor in the Napoleonic Wars.
C.S. Forester edited the diary and it was first published in 1954. A
paperback edition appeared in 1994 (Michael Joseph - publisher).
I picked up a copy in a remaindered bookstore for a fraction of the cover
price.
Wetherell writes about his time on 'Hussar' under the tyrannical Capt. Sir
Philip Wilkinson, who seemed to like nothing better than to flog a few
sailors for an afternoon's amusement. After being shipwrecked, he was a
prisoner of war in France for 11 years - His kind treatment at the hands of
his enemies is in wonderful contrast to the horrific treatment dished out by
his countrymen in the British Navy.
His English is odd (to say the least!) but very readable, and reveals a
likeable, optimistic young man. Forester points out that Wetherell was
never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story, but what's new
about that?
Highly recommended to aficionados.
Bill
--bill.samson@...<mailto:bill.samson@...>
Chebacco News can be viewed on:
http://members.xoom.com/billsamson<http://members.xoom.com/billsamson>
_____
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Thanks
for the tip Bill.
Speaking of good picks, I recently picked up a copy of
Erskine Childers "Riddle of the Sands". I'm probably the last one to find
out about this, but it is truly fabulous. A great read while I suffer
through the most miserable Florida winter in the six years I've lived
here.
Robert & Amy Lundy
St. Petersburg,
fla.
robert@...
amy@...
-----Original Message-----
From:Samson family [mailto:Bill.Samson@...]
Sent:February 08, 2000 3:08 PM
To:'Bolgerlist'; bolger@egroups.com
Subject:[bolger] Interesting readingHi,I know a lot of you guys are fans of the writings of the late, great Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester.I'll bet you'd enjoy "The Adventures of John Wetherell" (if you haven't already read it) - the diary of a British sailor in the Napoleonic Wars. C.S. Forester edited the diary and it was first published in 1954. A paperback edition appeared in 1994 (Michael Joseph - publisher).I picked up a copy in a remaindered bookstore for a fraction of the cover price.Wetherell writes about his time on 'Hussar' under the tyrannical Capt. Sir Philip Wilkinson, who seemed to like nothing better than to flog a few sailors for an afternoon's amusement. After being shipwrecked, he was a prisoner of war in France for 11 years - His kind treatment at the hands of his enemies is in wonderful contrast to the horrific treatment dished out by his countrymen in the British Navy.His English is odd (to say the least!) but very readable, and reveals a likeable, optimistic young man. Forester points out that Wetherell was never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story, but what's new about that?Highly recommended to aficionados.BilleGroups.com Home:http://www.egroups.com/group/bolger
www.egroups.com- Simplifying group communications
Hi,
I know a lot of you guys are fans of the writings of the late,
great Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester.
I'll bet you'd enjoy "The Adventures of John
Wetherell" (if you haven't already read it) - the diary of a British sailor
in the Napoleonic Wars. C.S. Forester edited the diary and it was first
published in 1954. A paperback edition appeared in 1994 (Michael Joseph -
publisher).
I picked up a copy in a remaindered bookstore for a fraction
of the cover price.
Wetherell writes about his time on 'Hussar' under the
tyrannical Capt. Sir Philip Wilkinson, who seemed to like nothing better than to
flog a few sailors for an afternoon's amusement. After being shipwrecked,
he was a prisoner of war in France for 11 years - His kind treatment at the
hands of his enemies is in wonderful contrast to the horrific treatment dished
out by his countrymen in the British Navy.
His English is odd (to say the least!) but very readable, and
reveals a likeable, optimistic young man. Forester points out that
Wetherell was never one to let the facts stand in the way of a good story, but
what's new about that?
Highly recommended to aficionados.
Bill