The film version of this book was quite faithful - it gave more time to the girl, who here is very much "the girl" (she kind of was in the film too but had a little more to do). The girl has a boyfriend/chauffeur who loves her, Kennedy who helps out Talbot.
I always thought the best way to adapt this would be to tell the story from the POV of the girl and have Talbot as a mystery - get the girl more involved in the second half.
Maclean's gimmick was to tell the story from first person but have him hold stuff back from the reader - normally two things (a) he's a goodie and (b) he totally expected that thing that happened to happen. That happens here.
The plan of the guy is very complex when you think about it (and risky) but it's a well written story, hurtles along, very exciting. You feel the hero is up against it a lot . There's genuine emotion too especially at the end when Talbot describes what the death of his three year old must have been like. Solid climax at the bottom of the sea... though in an adaptation I'd have Talbot go down there to die and have the girl talk him around.
It felt true Talbot didn't get the girl and let the chauffeur have her. A solid ending.
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