A powerful novel of the north atlantic in world war ii, this is the story of the british ships compass rose and saltash and of their desperate catandmouse game with nazi uboats. When i first saw this book i assumed that nicholas monsarrat would be the focus of the book. It centers on life on a corvette, a small ship used by the british much as destroyer. It centers on life on a corvette, a small ship used by the british much as destroyer escorts were used by the americans, mostly for defense of convoys, but occasionally for offensive work against uboats. Get to the dock office, and start mustering the confidential books. The crew are mostly inexperienced men from nonnaval backgrounds and the story focuses on their differing reactions to the horrifying experiences they have as german uboats attack.
The novel the cruel sea by nicholas monserrat was an unflinching portrayal of life at sea during wwii on a boat tasked with protecting. The cruel sea novel, a 1951 war novel by nicholas monsarrat the cruel sea 1953 film, a 1953 war film made of the above book, starring jack hawkins the cruel sea 1972 film, a 1972 kuwaiti film and the f. The novel, based on the authors experience of serving in corvettes and frigates in the north atlantic in the second world war, gives a matteroffact but. It covers not just the details of the battle, but deals with the people who fought it their domestic triumphs, tragedies, worries and ambitions. The only heroines are the ships and the only villain the cruel sea itself. The cruel sea is perhaps the finest novel written out of world war ii. A powerful novel of the north atlantic in world wat ii, this is the story of the british ships compass rose and saltash and of their desparate catandmouse game with nazi uboats. The cruel sea is the story of the crew of a newly commissioned corvette, compass rose, a ship that forms part of the escort to merchant convoys during world war ii. Almost crueller are the german u boats who attack both convoys and their escorts. And so it is, this engrossing, enormous record of the years 1939 and on into 1945, of atlantic convoy duty aboard the corvette, compass rose, and later, on the a frigate. The film, which was made by ealing studios seven years after the end of the second world war, was directed by charles frend and produced by leslie norman.
Snorkers are mentioned in nicholas monsarrats novel the cruel sea as the favourite food of lieutenant james bennett, rnvr. It is the story of two ships, maybe 200 men, german submarines and the constant relentless ocean. First published to great accalim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a classic novel of endurance and daring. The cruel sea, a 1972 kuwaiti film and the first kuwaiti film to be produced. If there is a better book about the second world war please tell me about it. It follows the lives of a group of royal navy sailors fighting the battle of the atlantic during world war ii. The cruel sea, produced in the depth of rationing and cuts, was the first adultthemed film i saw, being taken to it by an aunt when i was around ten. The other major snag, from his own point of view, had already shown itself. Ericson, with a new job, a new ship, and a new crew, is also faced with a new kind of war as an. However what i had was a fairly readable and quick book on essentially three convoy battles.
The truth behind monsarrats epic convoy drama 9781591141457. Firstly it is based on a superb book, secondly it is well cast with jack hawkins at the. Clarke and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. My father who had been the captain of five warships during the battle of the atlantic, including two corvettes, and who had lived for five years the very pages of nicolas monsarrats book, and in the shoes and mind of jack hawkins, thought it very well done, as it captured the. The cruel sea, a 1951 war novel by nicholas monsarrat. It is based on the best selling 1951 novel of the same name by former naval officer. Bennett, the first lieutenant, a mean and shirking disciplinarian with a penchant for bullying and canned sausages snorkers, leaves the ship. With great relief the film the cruel sea was all i had hoped.
It is drawn on the actual service in the royal navy of the author. The film was a smash hit when released and both it and the book continue to enjoy undiminshed popularity. The cruel sea are an australian indie rock band from sydney, new south wales formed in late 1987. Find books like the cruel sea from the worlds largest community of readers. It contains seven chapters, each describing a year during the war. Originally an instrumentalonly band, they became more popular when fronted by vocalist tex perkins beasts of bourbon and solo in addition to jim elliott on drums, ken gormly on bass guitar, dan rumour on guitar and james cruickshank on guitar and keyboards. The cruel sea kindle edition by monsarrat, nicholas. A powerful novel of the north atlantic in world war ii, this is the story of the british ships compass rose and saltash and of their desparate catandmouse game. Goodreads members who liked the cruel sea also liked. Darting back and forth across the icy north atlantic, compass rose played a deadly catandmouse game with packs of german uboats lying in wait beneath the ocean waves. The cruel sea is a 1953 british war film starring jack hawkins, donald sinden, denholm elliott, stanley baker, liam redmond, virginia mckenna and moira lister. Into the cruel sea, written by rich ristow and published by skullvines press, is a fast paced and sometimes brutal story.
The novel, based on the authors experience of serving in corvettes in the north atlantic in world war ii, gives a matteroffact but moving portrayal of ordinary men. Even with the passage of time, this book continues to be relevant for anyone with an interest in history and those who go to sea. It opens with a description of the hours after wade thomson murdered his parents and went into the sea chasing a dream of freedom. First published to great acclaim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a classic novel of endurance and daring. Books similar to the cruel sea meet your next favorite book. Lockhart closed his book, and stubbed out his cigarette. Can someone please tell me what snorkers are when applied to sausages, as i have. The book looks at the north atlantic war generally, but specifically at the crew aboard compass rose, their first ship which is torpedoed, and then saltash, the. The highly acclaimed cruel sea is one of the all time great naval and war thrillers. I again assumed that the book would delve into the inspirations for monsarrats excellent and highly recommended the cruel sea. The cruel sea band, an australian indie rock band formed in the 1980s the cruel sea song, a 1960s british hit guitar instrumental by the. It follows the lives of a group of royal navy sailors fighting the battle of the atlantic during the second world war. The cruel sea novel, a 1951 war novel by nicholas monsarrat the cruel sea 1953 film, a 1953 war film made of the above book, starring jack hawkins the cruel sea 1972 film, a 1972 kuwaiti film and the first kuwaiti film to be produced the cruel sea band, an australian indie rock band formed in the 1980s the cruel sea song, a 1960s british hit. In any kind of seaway at all, compass rose rolled abominably.
The characters are all well drawn as they face the. The cruel sea is a classic novel of world war ii from the british perspective. The cruel sea is the account of one crew aboard a rn ship, whose wartime job was to escort convoys of merchant ships across the atlantic to bring muchneeded supplies to an island locked in a dreadful war. The cruel sea is a novel about life on a flowerclass corvette in the royal navy in world war ii, written by nicholas monsarrat the main plot focuses on two royal naval volunteer reserve sublieutenants, lockhart and ferraby, although the novel portrays point of view of a number of other crew members, including commander ericson, lieutenant morell, chief engine room artificer watts and petty. Based on the authors own vivid experiences, the cruel sea is the nailbiting story of the crew of hms compass rose, a corvette assigned to protect convoys during world war ii. This is not the glamour side of war this is gritty dirty and quite magnificent. I consider the cruel sea to be among the 34 best novels dealing with world war ii and especially, the war at sea, that ive ever read.
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