The Strode Venturer
Cover artist Kenneth Farnhill
The Strode Venturer is a thriller by Hammond Innes published in 1965.
The novel is set between London, the Maldives and a bit in the Indian sub-continent. It provides a first person account of the adventures of a man who finds himself searching for the black sheep among a wealthy ship owning family. The hero is thrust into a world of danger and adventure among remote islands. The novel also deals with significant business and financial aspects which complement the adventure. The protagonist travels to various exotic locales such as volcanoes, quarries and uninhabited islands.
The Strode Venturer is notable for strong characterization and the exploration of such themes as family honour, the bounds of loyalty and man's relationship to nature, themes which would continue in Innes' later works.
Like many of Innes' novels, the hero faces all sorts of obstacles, which he has to overcome, including a family tragedy. The psychological characterization of the hero gives the book an added interest.
An adaptation of the book was broadcast in BBC radio 4's Saturday Night Theatre in 1974, with Martin Jarvis playing Peter Strode.