Erskine Childers' 'The Riddle of the Sands' is a pioneering work of spy fiction, published in 1903, that skillfully weaves together elements of adventure and political intrigue against the backdrop of the North Sea. The narrative follows the young British protagonist, Carruthers, as he embarks on a sailing trip that unravels a German plot against Britain. Childers employs a meticulous literary sty...