He served in world war ii, first as a member of an ambulance brigade and then as a member of the royal naval volunteer reserve. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Listen to cruel sea audiobook by nicholas monsarrat. Buy the cruel sea penguin world war ii collection by monsarrat, nicholas isbn. The cruel sea paperback march 14 2000 by nicholas monsarrat author 4. They also listed what they considered to be the top 5 sea novels.
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 in world war two. 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 cruel sea is a 1951 novel by nicholas monsarrat. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat abebooks passion for books. Mar 18, 2020 nicholas monsarrat, popular english novelist whose bestknown work, the cruel sea, vividly captured life aboard a small ship in wartime. The cruel sea is perhaps the finest novel written out of world war ii. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat, hardcover abebooks. The film was a smash hit when released and both it and the book continue to enjoy undiminshed popularity. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat book cover, description, publication history. I dont read much historical fiction, but i occasionally make exceptions since this book relates very closely to naval history and is semiautobiographical.
The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 520 pages and is available in paperback format. The novel, based on the authors experience of serving in corvettes. From library journal one of the classic naval adventure stories of world war ii, monsarrat s novel tells the tale of two british ships trying to escape destruction by wolf pack uboats hunting in the north atlantic. Nicholas monsarrat, in full nicholas john turney monsarrat, born march 22, 1910, liverpool, eng. First published to great acclaim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a classic novel of endurance and daring. The cruel sea follows the compass rose through the entire life of her service that service ends when shes torpedoed halfway through the book, something monsarrat again tells the reader up front in a before the curtain note that begins the novel, and the narrative is at its most effective during the early years of the war, when. The cruel sea by monsarrat, nicholas and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Buy a cheap copy of the cruel sea book by nicholas monsarrat.
One of the classic naval adventure stories of world war ii, monsarrats novel. One of the biggest bestsellers in the immediate aftermath of the second world war was nicholas monsarrats 1951 novel the cruel sea. Aug 06, 2009 buy the cruel sea penguin world war ii collection by monsarrat, nicholas isbn. This is nicholas monsarrat s final masterpiece, an epic tale of the sea and seafaring from the sixteenth century to near the end of the twentieth. Read the cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat available from rakuten kobo. Nicholas monsarrat, the british amateur sailor turned author who wrote the best. Above all, it is a true story because that is the only kind worth telling.
He was 69 years old and lived on the mediterranean island of gozo, off malta. I had forgotten just how great this novel is in its depiction of war in the atlantic ocean in the early days of world war ii, albeit from the standpoint of the british. The novel, based on the authors experience of serving in corvettes and frigates in the north atlantic in. The story is about convoy escorts, first aboard the corvette h. 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. 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. Monsarrat, nicholas the cruel sea free ebooks download. 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. The story follows the men of both ships from 1939 to the end of the war. 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 u. Nicholas monsarrat nicholas john turney monsarrat, son of a distinguished surgeon, was born in liverpool in 1910. Nicholas monsarrat was the skipper of an escort, a smaller version of a destroyer. Nicholas monsarrat, 69, the author of the cruel sea, a widely acclaimed novel of world war ii, and of several other books, died of cancer wednesday in the king edward vii. Lieutenant commander nicholas john turney monsarrat frsl rnvr 22 march 1910 8 august 1979 was a british novelist known today for his sea stories, particularly the cruel sea 1951 and three corvettes 194245, but perhaps best known internationally for his novels, the tribe that lost its head and its sequel, richer than all his tribe.
Pdf the cruel sea book by nicholas monsarrat free download. Net login register for bookmarks and favorites menu login. Ericson has a corvette, the compass rose, which is torpedoed in icelandic waters, only 11 of its 90man complement surviving. Books by nicholas monsarrat author of the cruel sea. It follows the lives of a group of royal navy sailors fighting the battle of the atlantic during the second world war. The highly acclaimed cruel sea is one of the all time great naval and war thrillers. 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. Buy the cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat online at alibris. Free download or read online the cruel sea pdf epub book. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat, 9780141042831, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A powerful novel of the north atlantic in world war ii, this is the story of the british. I read this book many, many years ago, probably while memories of the. It centers on life on a corvette, a small ship used by the british much as destroyer.
Gaining a law degree from cambridge he decided that the solicitors career for which he was being trained did not suit him. Having spent virtually all of world war ii as an officer on escort ships, monsarrat draws upon his experience to show what life and death were like for the men engaged in that dangerous and arduous enterprise. Monsarrat took a bachelors degree in law at trinity college, cambridge, and then spent two years in a solicitors office. Net archive search books by rating android app menu search books by rating android app bookfrom. 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. It contains seven chapters, each describing a year during the war. The cruel sea audiobook nicholas monsarrat audible. 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. Yes, sir, lockhart answered, as the natural spokesman. Click to read more about the cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat. This is the story the long and true story of one ocean, two ships, and about a hundred and fifty men. He wrote the cruel sea and many other naval dramas, but controversy followed with the story of esther costello about tv evangelism and fundraising.
Nicholas monsarrat has 46 books on goodreads with 15890 ratings. It is a long story because it deals with a long and brutal battle, the worst of any war. Darting back and forth across the icy north atlantic, compass rose played a deadly cat and mouse game with packs of german uboats lying in wait beneath the ocean waves. The cruel sea ebook by nicholas monsarrat rakuten kobo. Along with the surprisingly cheerful naval officer i guess he doesnt know anybody on that burning ship in the background, the cover was marked. First published to great acclaim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a classic novel of. It is the story of two ships, maybe 200 men, german submarines and the constant relentless ocean. Monsarrat, nicholas the cruel sea free epub, mobi, pdf ebooks download, ebook torrents download. Dec 22, 2019 i dont read much historical fiction, but i occasionally make exceptions since this book relates very closely to naval history and is semiautobiographical. The cruel sea kindle edition by nicholas monsarrat.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of nicholas monsarrat books online. Lieutenant commander nicholas john turney monsarrat rnvr 22 march 1910 8 august 1979 was a british novelist known today for his sea stories, particularly the cruel sea 1951 and three corvettes 194245, but perhaps best known internationally for his novels, the tribe that lost its head and its sequel, richer than all his tribe. Nicholas monsarrats the cruel sea was listed, with a brief summary. It has two ships because one was sunk and had to be replaced. The original edition in unclipped dustwrapper by nicholas monsarrat and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nicholas monsarrat, 69, the author of the cruel sea, a widely acclaimed novel of world war ii, and of several other books, died of cancer wednesday in the king edward vii hospital for officers. By monsarrat, nicholas 1999, united states naval inst. The cruel sea nicholas monsarrat read online free books. It has 150 men because that is a manageable number of people to tell a story about.
Nicholas monsarrat s most popular book is the cruel sea. Ericson, with a new job, a new ship, and a new crew, is also faced with a new kind of war as an. First published to great accalim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a classic novel of endurance and daring. Established as a sort after writer who was also highly regarded by critics, monsarrats career eventually concluded with his epic the master mariner, a novel on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Cruel sea, the by monsarrat, nicholas naval warfare. The first edition of the novel was published in june 15th 1951, and was written by nicholas monsarrat. 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 main characters of this fiction, historical story are.
Nicholas monsarrat was born in liverpool in 1910, and was educated at trinity college, cambridge. The cruel sea nicholas monsarrat page 2 read online. Monsarrat s the cruel sea is an outstanding novel of corvettes escorting convoys in the atlantic during war ii, and is perhaps the finest book written about the war at sea. Aug 09, 1979 nicholas monsarrat, the british amateur sailor turned author who wrote the best. First published to great accalim in 1951, the cruel sea remains a. It was good to get back to this book which i can remember sitting on my fathers book shelf and having seen the old movie many years ago. The cruel sea is famous for its graphic depiction of north atlantic convoy duty. The only heroines are the ships and the only villain the cruel sea itself. Author spotlight nicholas monsarrat by leslie weddell. Monsarrats the cruel sea is an outstanding novel of corvettes escorting convoys in the atlantic during war ii, and is perhaps the finest book written about the war at sea. The cruel sea is a classic novel of world war ii from the british perspective. His lifelong love of sailing made him a capable naval officer, and he served with distinction on a series of small warships. Nicholas john turney monsarrat, son of a distinguished surgeon, was born in liverpool in 1910. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat fantastic fiction.
The hateful struggle, to be effective, demanded one hundred percent from many millions of individual people. Lying crosswise atop a shelf of ls, ms and ns was a lone paperback, a cardinal giant edition of the cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat. After the war he became a director of the uk information service, first in johannesburg, then in ottawa. What was very clear from the start is the understanding the author has of life at sea and of the characters. It is a story of convoy duty in the battle of the atlantic. Nicholas monsarrat, the cruel sea the cruel sea is the greatest war novel of all time. It follows the lives of a group of royal navy sailors fighting the battle of the atlantic during the second. He knew the brutal truth of how it was and this comes across in detail that is sometimes laborious and over written, but if you want a taste of how it was, this is the book for you.
Cruel sea edition 1 by nicholas monsarrat 2901580800463. It is drawn on the actual service in the royal navy of the author. Isbn 1580800467 paperback, 520 pages the book is a fiction. The cruel sea was made into a classic film starring jack hawkins. Told from the point of view of mathew lawe, a young devon sailor who is cursed after a spectacular act. The cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat, first edition abebooks. I first read nicholas monsarrat s the cruel sea as a young u. Published in 1951, the cruel sea by nicholas monsarrat chronicles the battle of the atlantic from the perspective of the crew of a royal navy corvette given the unglamorous duty of escorting. 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 highly acclaimed cruel sea is one of the alltime great naval and war thrillers. I actually read monsarrat s memoir three corvettes in the 90s, but i dont remember anything about it. 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. It rings so true because the author had been there and done thathaving served in the three corvettes described in the book.
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