Five programmes about famous books and their authors.
3: The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
' Squalls swept incessantly ever the loch, and Davies, at my own request, gave me no rest. Backwards and forwards we tacked, reefing and unreefing, now stung with rain, now warmed with sun, but never with time to breathe or think.' An account of the background to the spy story which is unrivalled for its evocation of the jovs of sailing; and of its author. Erskine Childers , the Englishman whose involvement with Irish politics brought him death from a firing squad. with John Rowe as Carruthers Other parts read by GEOFFREY BANKS , JOHN LINSTRUM GRAHAM ROBERTS , BRIAN TRUEMAN and ANTHONY WINGATE
Narrator David Mahlowe Written by RONALD FAUX
Produced and directed by STANLEY WILLIAMSON -BBC Manchester