Wednesday 24 November 2010

'Take a step or two forward, lads...'

It was on this day in 1922 that (Robert) Erskine Childers, having converted from loyal British Imperialist to fanatical Irish Nationalist and fallen foul of the Irish Free State authorities in the course of the Civil War, was executed by firing squad at the Beggar's Bush Barracks in Dublin. Sportingly, he shook hands with each member of the firing squad and suggested they 'take a step or two forward, lads. It will be easier that way.' He also left instructions to his son to seek out and shake the hand of every man who had signed his death warrant. No hard feelings then.
Childers' claim to literary fame - and it's an enduring one, as the book has never been out of print - is The Riddle Of The Sands, one of the first spy novels and a very influential invasion scare novel. It is still a jolly good read, if a little heavy on the yachting side of things...

7 comments:

  1. Well, I'm giving it a go, Nige. I downloaded if from Gutenberg and stuck it on my ereader. However, I have to say, he has an odd style. I'm normally a sucker for writes of this period but he seems overly keen on his commas and subordinate clauses. Don't know if I'm going to make it but we'll see. He's only mentioned yachts half a dozen times, though I'm not that far into it...

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  2. You wait Stan - you'll soon know the east Frisian coast like the back of yr hand...

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  3. I always found TROTS to be as boring and impenatrable as its Fresian mudflats setting. The film was pretty rubbish too

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  4. Worm: that's the word 'impenetrable'. His prose is a bit like wading through treacle. However, I always trust Nige's judgement and if he says 'wait' then wait I shall.

    Nige, I've always wanted to know the Frisian coast like the back of my hand, my hand like the Frisian coast. I hope this book lives up to your promises.

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  5. Truly, Childers' death was a Man's death.

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  6. I take it all back, Nige. We're now at sea and I'm hooked. Picked up enormously and I'm extremely smitten by the descriptions of all the fjords.

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  7. The film with wonderfully wooden Michael York as Carruthers is curiously cool and dated. So sad about Simon MacCorkindale...

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