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Chandos #8
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A story from Dornford Yates’ later career, of stolen treasure, set against a backdrop of World War II: adventure, a travelling circus and much more besides. Lots of favourite Yates characters are here, as well as some new ones, like the Portuguese mule in trousers, and a few striking villains. This is the legendary Chandos’ final fictional appearance. A tense, assured plot and vintage comedy from a master of the genre.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
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About the author
Dornford Yates
64 books21 followersDornford Yates (real name Cecil William Mercer) was a popular British novelist.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 19, 2020
Synopsis:
Two Swashbuckling aristocratic adventure seekers come to the assistance of a friend who has a treasure that needs to be smuggled out of Nazi occupied Austria. They need to work quickly against rival thieves, and escape the closing in of the Boche (The Germans). Set just before WW2 when Austria was occupied by the Nazis.
What was good about it:
Indiana Jones theft alert. This reads as well as any story that you would see in a Spielberg blockbuster. It’s a page-turner from the beginning until the end. It’s Indiana Jones, meets Tintin and Haddock. Herculean feats of bravery and endurance are lavished with cunning and cleverness to make one of the most fun and engaging reads I have had in ages. It is just pure adventure and delight, witty and funny and observant of the times. The writing is crafted beautifully, not overworked or fussy. After reading this, I bought all his other books on amazon.
What didn’t I enjoy about it:
Nothing really, perhaps we are moved on from calling out the Germans as brutes, but it’s definitely of its age. Another book where I had to write down the list of characters and have this to hand (On my bookmark). This is just an age thing though.
Two Swashbuckling aristocratic adventure seekers come to the assistance of a friend who has a treasure that needs to be smuggled out of Nazi occupied Austria. They need to work quickly against rival thieves, and escape the closing in of the Boche (The Germans). Set just before WW2 when Austria was occupied by the Nazis.
What was good about it:
Indiana Jones theft alert. This reads as well as any story that you would see in a Spielberg blockbuster. It’s a page-turner from the beginning until the end. It’s Indiana Jones, meets Tintin and Haddock. Herculean feats of bravery and endurance are lavished with cunning and cleverness to make one of the most fun and engaging reads I have had in ages. It is just pure adventure and delight, witty and funny and observant of the times. The writing is crafted beautifully, not overworked or fussy. After reading this, I bought all his other books on amazon.
What didn’t I enjoy about it:
Nothing really, perhaps we are moved on from calling out the Germans as brutes, but it’s definitely of its age. Another book where I had to write down the list of characters and have this to hand (On my bookmark). This is just an age thing though.
August 9, 2014
Not quite up to some of the other Chandos books for me. I love Dornford Yates, ancient attitudes, racism and all. He writes his time, it's not the time I live in now but I certainly wouldn't want the stories adulterated to make them politically acceptable! I really enjoy reading this sort of tight, fast adventure story AND I like to know how people were in the past not how we might prefer them to be now.
I didn't find the subsidiary characters as good as usual in this book, the last of the Chandos series. Some of the events are as spectacular as usual, especially the waterfall scene, but that didn't make me give it as high as rating as I do for She Fell Among Thieves and She Painted Her Face. I found I didn't mind getting to the end of the story - unusual for me with Yates as I normally don't want to finish.
Yes I'm keeping my copy, and it will get re-read occasionally, but it certainly won't become as dog-eared as the other Chandos books.
I didn't find the subsidiary characters as good as usual in this book, the last of the Chandos series. Some of the events are as spectacular as usual, especially the waterfall scene, but that didn't make me give it as high as rating as I do for She Fell Among Thieves and She Painted Her Face. I found I didn't mind getting to the end of the story - unusual for me with Yates as I normally don't want to finish.
Yes I'm keeping my copy, and it will get re-read occasionally, but it certainly won't become as dog-eared as the other Chandos books.
February 5, 2013
Absolutely enjoyed this refreshing tale of adventure and descriptive accounts of the countryside.
January 8, 2022
Thumping good read. Chandos and Mansel, gentlemen adventurers, go jewel-hunting in Continental Europe again. It's set a few years before World War Two and they are helping a friend to smuggle a priceless collection of jewels out of Austria before the nasty Boche can get their paws on them.
Classic Dornford Yates and well worth the read.
Classic Dornford Yates and well worth the read.
March 1, 2024
Triumphant end to the Chandos books. Usual heady mix of violence, romance, surprisingly gruesome scenes and Sturdy Heroes of England. Lengthy coda, as the peril gradually subsides, rounds things off nicely.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews