Erskine Childers Bibliography

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Erskine Childers was born in London on 25th June 1870 to a wealthy and privileged background. He had a private education before attending Trinity College Cambridge where to took a degree in law. After leaving he worked in the House of Commons for a while before joining the services in 1899. In 1903 the novel for which he is best known and what is widely regarded as the first spy novel, Riddle of the Sands, was published. It was an immediate success quickly running into reprint. The outbreak of the war in 1914 saw Childers working for army intelligence where he was eventually awarded the DSC.  He later became heavily involved in Irish politics and was a supporter of home rule. He also joined the Irish Republican Army, this led to him being arrested in 1922 whilst carrying a gun and was badly beaten, Winston Churchill even commented on his arrest. He was later court martialled and sentenced to death! He was shot 7 days later, retaining his dignity, refusing a blindfold and shaking hands with every member of the firing squad. If you are looking to buy or sell books then our rare book dealers section may be of some assistance.

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