- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Hutchinson Lib.Service; New e. edition (16 Jun 1975)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0091224403
- ISBN-13: 978-0091224400
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,040,134 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Challenge
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Product Description
Book Description
When Colonel Henry Talbot summons Bulldog Drummond and Ronald Standish, it is to inform them of the mysterious death of one of their colleagues - Jimmy Latimer. At the time of his death, he was on a big job, and was travelling on a boat to Newhaven when he died. But there was no sign of any wound, no trace of any weapon when they found him in his cabin. What strikes Drummond and Standish is why millionaire, Charles Burton, would have been travelling on the same boat - arguably the most uncomfortable crossing he could choose and very out-of-character. AUTHBIO: Sapper is the pen name of Herman Cyril McNeile, chosen because he served for some years with the Royal Engineers, who are popularly known as 'sappers'. His most famous character - the formidable Bulldog Drummond - inspired a hugely popular series and several films, making Sapper one of the most popular novelists of his generation.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Challenge is the last novel written by Sapper. It features his most memorable character, Captain Hugh 'Bulldog' Drummond. The action and pace never let up from first to last - a characteristic of Sapper's. It returns to the quality of the first of the books. As with the two previous Drummond novels, Ronald Standish reappears, but so do some of Drummond's old pals; Algy Longworth and Peter Darrell, which is all to the good. Colonel Talbot, an intelligence officer who appeared in Bulldog Drummond at Bay, the previous novel, also makes his reentry - and exit.
As usual, evil foreigners are plotting against dear old Blighty, and Drummond and co. are out to stop them. The book begins with the murder of a British agent carrying vital news and the chase takes place in a London night club, across France, Switzerland, and then in an English country house, South London and on the Cornish coast where the novel comes to a climax.
There are moments of humour, such as when shy Drummond asks the heroine about her repulsive boss "Does ge expect you to-" "Sleep with him?" the modern Miss replies.
There is no reference to Mrs Drummond, which is common in the later novels.
Given the crisis in Europe at the time of writing, with the dictatorships in the USSR, Germany and Italy, flexing their muscles, the book's plot was certainly topical. A minor character makes some anti-appeasement remarks (not a popular subject at the time), and there are some good social observations made about the mentality of the upper classes towards war and foreign policy.
Those familiar with Sapper can expect a very good read, and its good to see that Sapper's last novel is among his best.
As usual, evil foreigners are plotting against dear old Blighty, and Drummond and co. are out to stop them. The book begins with the murder of a British agent carrying vital news and the chase takes place in a London night club, across France, Switzerland, and then in an English country house, South London and on the Cornish coast where the novel comes to a climax.
There are moments of humour, such as when shy Drummond asks the heroine about her repulsive boss "Does ge expect you to-" "Sleep with him?" the modern Miss replies.
There is no reference to Mrs Drummond, which is common in the later novels.
Given the crisis in Europe at the time of writing, with the dictatorships in the USSR, Germany and Italy, flexing their muscles, the book's plot was certainly topical. A minor character makes some anti-appeasement remarks (not a popular subject at the time), and there are some good social observations made about the mentality of the upper classes towards war and foreign policy.
Those familiar with Sapper can expect a very good read, and its good to see that Sapper's last novel is among his best.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A REVIEW OF `CHALLENGE' BY SAPPER
`Challenge' was the last of the ten original Bulldog Drummond novels penned by the hero's creator H.C. McNeile (aka Sapper) who sadly died in 1937. First published in that same year, `Challenge' dives feet-first into a story brimming with action, espionage and escapism. The plot revolves around Drummond's attempts to thwart a gang of international terrorists plotting to destroy Britain and the British Empire from within using cells of Communists / anarchists to carry out their dirty work. The leaders of said gang are apparently respectable members of society, which makes the job a tad tricky for Hugh and his buddies.
Those familiar with the Bulldog Drummond books will recognise the footprints of a tried-and-tested formula in my plot summary. Indeed, many of the series essential elements are here*. For example, master-villain Charles Burton has a veneer of respectability similar to that of Carl Peterson in the first four novels. Likewise, we have the usual blend of fist-fights and banter throughout the yarn.
However, having hit double Drummond figures, Sapper does offer some freshness. The first half of the story is very much a game of cat-and-mouse with Drummond and Ronald Standish being chased across France and The Low Countries by their shadowy enemies. With its French Riviera setting, parts of `Challenge' could even be described as glamorous, foreshadowing the exotic locales of the forthcoming Bond novels, now only 15-or-so years away. It is in its first half and final quarter that `Challenge' really succeeds. The chasing and duelling of goodies and baddies is very well-handled, offering an increased sense of pace akin to that found in John Buchan's best work.
Sadly, the momentum is lost somewhat by a third quarter which reads more like a P.G. Wodehouse Blandings Castle novella that a genuine thriller. As entertaining as it may be, the section devoted to Algy Longworth's buffoonery in Burton's stately home, rather interrupts the urgency and excitement. All of which is a great shame, as the truly explosive Cornish-set finale is arguably the best of the series. Returning briefly to a certain Mr Fleming, did I spot a huge similarity with `Dr No' in the villain's attempts to conceal their evil-doings from the local populace?
Thus, despite its uneven structure, `Challenge' is a worthy goodbye from Sapper to Hugh Drummond after 17 years of blood-and-thunder antics. Drummond would soon return, not only in 5 posthumously-published Sapper short stories, but also via seven new novels penned by Sapper's official successor, Gerard Fairlie. I shall enjoy rejoining him in them. However, as boys'-own-adventures very taken in their correct context (and with tongue lodged securely in cheek) the original tales will take some beating.
Barty's Score: 8.5 / 10
* Bizarrely, one element missing from `Challenge' is Drummond's wife, Phyllis. In previous adventures her increasingly low-profile would be politely explained by her being overseas or shopping. Here, she does not even get a mention!
`Challenge' was the last of the ten original Bulldog Drummond novels penned by the hero's creator H.C. McNeile (aka Sapper) who sadly died in 1937. First published in that same year, `Challenge' dives feet-first into a story brimming with action, espionage and escapism. The plot revolves around Drummond's attempts to thwart a gang of international terrorists plotting to destroy Britain and the British Empire from within using cells of Communists / anarchists to carry out their dirty work. The leaders of said gang are apparently respectable members of society, which makes the job a tad tricky for Hugh and his buddies.
Those familiar with the Bulldog Drummond books will recognise the footprints of a tried-and-tested formula in my plot summary. Indeed, many of the series essential elements are here*. For example, master-villain Charles Burton has a veneer of respectability similar to that of Carl Peterson in the first four novels. Likewise, we have the usual blend of fist-fights and banter throughout the yarn.
However, having hit double Drummond figures, Sapper does offer some freshness. The first half of the story is very much a game of cat-and-mouse with Drummond and Ronald Standish being chased across France and The Low Countries by their shadowy enemies. With its French Riviera setting, parts of `Challenge' could even be described as glamorous, foreshadowing the exotic locales of the forthcoming Bond novels, now only 15-or-so years away. It is in its first half and final quarter that `Challenge' really succeeds. The chasing and duelling of goodies and baddies is very well-handled, offering an increased sense of pace akin to that found in John Buchan's best work.
Sadly, the momentum is lost somewhat by a third quarter which reads more like a P.G. Wodehouse Blandings Castle novella that a genuine thriller. As entertaining as it may be, the section devoted to Algy Longworth's buffoonery in Burton's stately home, rather interrupts the urgency and excitement. All of which is a great shame, as the truly explosive Cornish-set finale is arguably the best of the series. Returning briefly to a certain Mr Fleming, did I spot a huge similarity with `Dr No' in the villain's attempts to conceal their evil-doings from the local populace?
Thus, despite its uneven structure, `Challenge' is a worthy goodbye from Sapper to Hugh Drummond after 17 years of blood-and-thunder antics. Drummond would soon return, not only in 5 posthumously-published Sapper short stories, but also via seven new novels penned by Sapper's official successor, Gerard Fairlie. I shall enjoy rejoining him in them. However, as boys'-own-adventures very taken in their correct context (and with tongue lodged securely in cheek) the original tales will take some beating.
Barty's Score: 8.5 / 10
* Bizarrely, one element missing from `Challenge' is Drummond's wife, Phyllis. In previous adventures her increasingly low-profile would be politely explained by her being overseas or shopping. Here, she does not even get a mention!
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