The cruel sea - Kirjakasa

509 pages

English language

Published Dec. 30, 2000 by Burford Books.

ISBN:: 978-1-58080-046-4

(1 review)

The Cruel Sea is a 1951 novel by Nicholas Monsarrat. It follows the lives of a group of Royal Navy sailors fighting the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. It contains seven chapters, each describing a year during the war.

The novel, based on the author's experience of serving in corvettes in the North Atlantic in World War II, gives a matter-of-fact but moving portrayal of ordinary men learning to fight and survive in a violent, exhausting battle against the elements and a ruthless enemy.

Few books have ever conveyed in such gripping detail the brutal destruction of the Battle of the Atlantic and the endurance of the men who fought it. The novel brought instant fame to its author.

13 editions

Thom reviewed The cruel sea by Nicholas Monsarrat (Classics of war)

Review of 'The cruel sea' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

Written 60 years ago, this novel of escorting convoys in the Atlantic during WWII is two or three books at once. Weather is as much a villain as the U-boat. Classic nautical fiction, apparently made into a classic film that is now on my to-watch list. Recommended!

The author served in the war, and his career closely matches Lieutenant Lockhart in the book. The broad cast of characters were distinct and well written, likely drawn from shipmates. The changes in technology over the span of the war are shown clearly. Not a lot is said about the other escorts or the ships in convoy, but then the work was somewhat solitary.

A few times the novel dragged a little, and it did take a month to read over 500 pages. For that matter an illustration of the corvette would have been nice, or maybe a map. Minor quibbles - this …

Written 60 years ago, this novel of escorting convoys in the Atlantic during WWII is two or three books at once. Weather is as much a villain as the U-boat. Classic nautical fiction, apparently made into a classic film that is now on my to-watch list. Recommended!

The author served in the war, and his career closely matches Lieutenant Lockhart in the book. The broad cast of characters were distinct and well written, likely drawn from shipmates. The changes in technology over the span of the war are shown clearly. Not a lot is said about the other escorts or the ships in convoy, but then the work was somewhat solitary.

A few times the novel dragged a little, and it did take a month to read over 500 pages. For that matter an illustration of the corvette would have been nice, or maybe a map. Minor quibbles - this is a solid 4.5 star book, rounding up to 5 on this site. I plan to watch the movie soon, but you should go find the book now.

Subjects

World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- North Atlantic Ocean -- Fiction.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Naval operations -- Fiction.
North Atlantic Ocean -- Fiction.