Publication
Penguin UK (2009), 448 p.
Original publication date
1951-08
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Description
A maritime adventure originally published in 1951. Set in the Second World War, two ships and their crews of about a hundred and fifty men are involved in defending Atlantic convoys against impossible odds.
User reviews
LibraryThing member baswood
Published in 1951 a mere six years after the end of the second world war, this is a novel of historical fiction that tells the story and role of the smaller boats that formed the protective screen around the convoys that made regular crossings of the Atlantic ocean during the second world war. The
The novel follows Lockhart's journey through the war years from his initial posting as an officer recruited from a career in journalism at the start of the war until his position as first lieutenant in a new frigate at the end of hostilities. Monsarrat own career during the war followed a similar path and while the novel is not an autobiography, Monsarrat uses his experience to paint a picture of life on the high seas during wartime. He tells a story full of danger and adversity spiced with memorable seascapes and impossible working conditions. Lockhart's first boat the Compass Rose was one of the early corvettes which first took to the sea equipped with a small gun and depth charges, but without any radar and proved to be a soft target for the German U Boats. The corvette struggled in rough seas and its crew of ninety endured very cramped conditions, with more injuries caused by weather conditions than from hostile forces, but in danger on every trip of being sunk with perhaps the loss of all on board. Monsarrat's skills as a writer create a realistic picture of the struggle against superior forces and the toughness of the men to survive the attacks and the hard learned skills of officers who have to make life or death decisions. He creates plenty of tension and excitement.
While the novel also attempts to show relationships between the officers and sometimes between them and the ordinary ratings this is not its strongest point. It is good on a fairly superficial level and shows the teamwork needed to survive the awful conditions, but there is little in depth of characterisation and sometimes it feels a little corny. Where women do feature it is as lovers and wives of the men and one particular episode could qualify as a contender for the best "bad sex" episode of the year, remembering that the year is 1951. It could be said that Monsarrat never gets far beneath the oil skins. Where the novel ca appear even more unstuck when read today is when it strays into an insidious patriotism. I fully understand that people signing up for the war effort were brave and patriotic, but one gets the feeling when talking about other nations that Monsarrat is merely mouthing the xenophobia that was in existence at the time.
Reading the novel gives a seemingly authentic account of the struggle to keep the convoy system in operation across the Atlantic during the war and as such provides an historical retelling as seen through the eyes of one of its participants. Conditions on board the small boats were both difficult and horrifying and Monsarrat does not spare his readers some of the more gruesome details. This was a wartime situation and Monsarrat's descriptions would be vivid enough to put the book into the anti-war camp for many readers. A cruel sea, a cruel war and an intolerable strain on the men who had to survive the conditions. Its not great literature: its all a bit too episodic for that, but it places the reader inside those small ships amongst the stink of oil and seawater to create an exciting account and a 4 star read.
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strength of the novel lays in its depiction of the work and conditions aboard Corvettes and then Frigates who were in almost constant danger from german submarine (U boat) attacks and from the horrendous nautical conditions during the winter months. Monsarrat focuses on his leading character Keith Lockhart who held various posts on both types of boat under the command of a professional navy officer Ericson with whom he forged a good working relationship. The novel follows Lockhart's journey through the war years from his initial posting as an officer recruited from a career in journalism at the start of the war until his position as first lieutenant in a new frigate at the end of hostilities. Monsarrat own career during the war followed a similar path and while the novel is not an autobiography, Monsarrat uses his experience to paint a picture of life on the high seas during wartime. He tells a story full of danger and adversity spiced with memorable seascapes and impossible working conditions. Lockhart's first boat the Compass Rose was one of the early corvettes which first took to the sea equipped with a small gun and depth charges, but without any radar and proved to be a soft target for the German U Boats. The corvette struggled in rough seas and its crew of ninety endured very cramped conditions, with more injuries caused by weather conditions than from hostile forces, but in danger on every trip of being sunk with perhaps the loss of all on board. Monsarrat's skills as a writer create a realistic picture of the struggle against superior forces and the toughness of the men to survive the attacks and the hard learned skills of officers who have to make life or death decisions. He creates plenty of tension and excitement.
While the novel also attempts to show relationships between the officers and sometimes between them and the ordinary ratings this is not its strongest point. It is good on a fairly superficial level and shows the teamwork needed to survive the awful conditions, but there is little in depth of characterisation and sometimes it feels a little corny. Where women do feature it is as lovers and wives of the men and one particular episode could qualify as a contender for the best "bad sex" episode of the year, remembering that the year is 1951. It could be said that Monsarrat never gets far beneath the oil skins. Where the novel ca appear even more unstuck when read today is when it strays into an insidious patriotism. I fully understand that people signing up for the war effort were brave and patriotic, but one gets the feeling when talking about other nations that Monsarrat is merely mouthing the xenophobia that was in existence at the time.
Reading the novel gives a seemingly authentic account of the struggle to keep the convoy system in operation across the Atlantic during the war and as such provides an historical retelling as seen through the eyes of one of its participants. Conditions on board the small boats were both difficult and horrifying and Monsarrat does not spare his readers some of the more gruesome details. This was a wartime situation and Monsarrat's descriptions would be vivid enough to put the book into the anti-war camp for many readers. A cruel sea, a cruel war and an intolerable strain on the men who had to survive the conditions. Its not great literature: its all a bit too episodic for that, but it places the reader inside those small ships amongst the stink of oil and seawater to create an exciting account and a 4 star read.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I first read this book well over forty years ago, while still at school, at the urging of my parents, both of whom had served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. I enjoyed it then, but realise now how superficial my appreciation of it had been
The story revolves around the travails of HMS
Ericson’s crew also stirs mixed emotions in the Commander. His First Lieutenant is Bennett, an Australian reservist, who is soon revealed as lazy, greedy and an intolerable bully. Ericson is luckier with his two Second Lieutenants, Lockhart and Ferraby. Although both only newly emerged from an all too brief training regime, they are keen to learn, although Ferraby’s lack of confidence leaves him vulnerable to Bennett’s bullying. Lockhart, initially viewed by Ericson with concern as a raucous flaneur, emerges as highly capable and conscientious officer, likely to advance within the service.
Monsarrat draws on his own experience of sailing in Atlantic convoys, and delivers a book that is rich in emotion while never succumbing to mawkish sentiment. He also captures much of the sheer tedium of a sailor’s life, with countless hours of life on board a pitching and rolling boat, forced to remain alert, but with nothing significant to do for most of the time. Of course, that can all change at a moment’s notice, with the convoys that the Compass Rose and its fellow Royal Navy vessels are protecting being constantly under threat of attack from the hordes of German U-boats criss-crossing the ocean. When drama does intervene, it is all-consuming, whether in the form of an attack by a U-Boat or sudden, potentially calamitous mechanical failure.
While there are episodes of high action, the real strength of this book is its depiction of the unremitting strain that war brings, and the diametric contrast between the tedium and routine existence experienced for most of the men’s time at sea, and the sudden transformation to utter horror, brutality and despair when action does finally occur.
The story revolves around the travails of HMS
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Compass Rose, a newly commissioned corvette which is assigned to convoy escort duty shortly after the start of the war in 1939. Lieutenant Commander George Ericson, an old naval hand, is waiting to take possession of the ship, and keen to return to active service. He is, however, too experienced to allow himself to be beguiled by the glamour of a brand-new ship. He immediately recognises that the Compass Rose has been built in haste, and to a design that allowed for the cutting of many corners. What is most apparent to the trusty old sailor is that the new brand of corvette has been designed without detailed consultation with the men who are likely to have to sail her. Yet Ericson is still excited to be returning to sea in his own boat.Ericson’s crew also stirs mixed emotions in the Commander. His First Lieutenant is Bennett, an Australian reservist, who is soon revealed as lazy, greedy and an intolerable bully. Ericson is luckier with his two Second Lieutenants, Lockhart and Ferraby. Although both only newly emerged from an all too brief training regime, they are keen to learn, although Ferraby’s lack of confidence leaves him vulnerable to Bennett’s bullying. Lockhart, initially viewed by Ericson with concern as a raucous flaneur, emerges as highly capable and conscientious officer, likely to advance within the service.
Monsarrat draws on his own experience of sailing in Atlantic convoys, and delivers a book that is rich in emotion while never succumbing to mawkish sentiment. He also captures much of the sheer tedium of a sailor’s life, with countless hours of life on board a pitching and rolling boat, forced to remain alert, but with nothing significant to do for most of the time. Of course, that can all change at a moment’s notice, with the convoys that the Compass Rose and its fellow Royal Navy vessels are protecting being constantly under threat of attack from the hordes of German U-boats criss-crossing the ocean. When drama does intervene, it is all-consuming, whether in the form of an attack by a U-Boat or sudden, potentially calamitous mechanical failure.
While there are episodes of high action, the real strength of this book is its depiction of the unremitting strain that war brings, and the diametric contrast between the tedium and routine existence experienced for most of the men’s time at sea, and the sudden transformation to utter horror, brutality and despair when action does finally occur.
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LibraryThing member CharlesMcCain
This is the classic novel of the Battle of the North Atlantic and by far the best sea novel to come out of World War Two. It's a slightly fictionalized memoir of the author's service aboard Royal Navy convoy escort ships and is a must read.
LibraryThing member usnmm2
Good read. Not so much on action, but more day to day living and surving of men on convoy duty and the stresses, mental and physical, at sea and home that it costs, both physical and mental
LibraryThing member captgeoff
An exceptionaly moving story, a compilation of the authors own experiences in the Royal Navy during the second world war.
LibraryThing member otterley
A book that should be read, showing the extremes of suffering and endurance experienced by those at the less glamorous end of World War II. I finished it with an enormous amount of respect, gratitude and admiration for the men of the convoys, moved by the pain and death described so compellingly
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and directly. Show Less
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
This was an odd one. I read it because one of my favourite books of all time (The Caine Mutiny) was compared with it, and I was hoping for more of the same. It was quite different as it turned out. There is a preface where the author makes it clear that there are two ships involved, and that the
Having said this, I was impressed by the quality of the writing, the authoritative narrative voice, and the hilarious exchange late on in the book between one of the ship's officers and an American on the subject of women. Classic.
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first one sinks, thereby giving away one of the most dramatic events in the book. Yes, the sinking was an absolute shocker, I felt as if I was right there on the ship with them, but it would have been better if I didn't already know to expect it. I also felt the story tailed off a little after that point.Having said this, I was impressed by the quality of the writing, the authoritative narrative voice, and the hilarious exchange late on in the book between one of the ship's officers and an American on the subject of women. Classic.
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LibraryThing member epeeist
The best book about the sea
LibraryThing member maritimer
I would not have even come close to finishing this book except that I have always had a soft spot for the movie - so I hung in there for the full 444 pages. The Cruel Sea is essentially an information dump about the Battle of the Atlantic, posing awkwardly as fiction. It has no plot per se and no
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true protagonist. It suffers from a hangover of post-war British jingoism and is chock full of stereotypes of non-Brits and of women. If you are looking for a novel that provides details about the WWII struggle between Allied convoy escorts and U-boats, this may be your book, but only if you don't care much about plot, character, dialogue, action, or good writing. Show Less
LibraryThing member stuart10er
Story of WWII service in the British Navy in the North Atlantic as told through the crew of the corvette Compass Rose. I liked it but it was strangely dated in the way it talked about war.
LibraryThing member MikeDI
One of the best novels of war at sea.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Simon Vance does a marvelous job narrating this audiobook & that helped me to assign this rating. WW2 books are not generally the type of book I like to read but this story about the battle of the Atlantic was excellent. It not only shows the reader about the tension-filled convoy duty being
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stalked by U-boats but the effects of the weather and the dull jobs when docked and the various personal problems that arise when a man is gone for long periods of time (even in couples who are used to such separation). Show Less
LibraryThing member bowlees
Classic tale of Atlantic Convoy duties in WW2. Made into movie.
LibraryThing member Castlelass
Published in 1951, this book is a classic fiction of maritime warfare in the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII, focused on a corvette ship assigned to protect convoys from German U-Boats. At the story opens, the newly built HMS Compass Rose is just being readied for launch and the crew is in
The book focuses on the relationship between the commander and officers, particularly his lieutenant, Lockhart. As a newbie, Lockhart is thrown into the maelstrom and must learn quickly how to function effectively. The commander serves as a friend and role model. I particularly appreciated one scene where fatigue was overtaking the crew after days of intense watches, maintaining constant vigilance in the face of exhaustion, and contending with the threat of torpedoes that could come with little warning. We follow the ship’s crew in encountering the enemy, weathering storms, and conducting the routine daily work at sea.
The story portrays the importance of making quick decisions, which lead to life-or-death consequences. We are privy to the characters’ doubts, fears, and feelings regarding those decisions. The women are not forgotten. We follow various crew members ashore during leave and view their interactions with spouses, family, and friends. One of the scenes toward the end poignantly and delicately describes love during wartime. Just beautifully done.
The characters are empathetically represented. Battle segments are vividly described. The crew rescues of other seamen after their ships sink and takes prisoners when the need arises. It is elegantly written, not sparing the brutalities of war, but not overly focused on them, either. I felt entirely immersed in this book. I felt like I was aboard ship during their voyages. It is among the best books I’ve read on the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII. Highly recommended.
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training. The only experienced crew member is Lieutenant-Commander George Ericson, who had previously served in the Merchant Navy. His officers are new to the Royal Navy, as so many were at the start of the war, having previously held civilian jobs. It is told linearly, covering 1939 to 1945, with one chapter dedicated to each year, and is based on the author’s own (and, at that time, recent) experiences. The book focuses on the relationship between the commander and officers, particularly his lieutenant, Lockhart. As a newbie, Lockhart is thrown into the maelstrom and must learn quickly how to function effectively. The commander serves as a friend and role model. I particularly appreciated one scene where fatigue was overtaking the crew after days of intense watches, maintaining constant vigilance in the face of exhaustion, and contending with the threat of torpedoes that could come with little warning. We follow the ship’s crew in encountering the enemy, weathering storms, and conducting the routine daily work at sea.
The story portrays the importance of making quick decisions, which lead to life-or-death consequences. We are privy to the characters’ doubts, fears, and feelings regarding those decisions. The women are not forgotten. We follow various crew members ashore during leave and view their interactions with spouses, family, and friends. One of the scenes toward the end poignantly and delicately describes love during wartime. Just beautifully done.
The characters are empathetically represented. Battle segments are vividly described. The crew rescues of other seamen after their ships sink and takes prisoners when the need arises. It is elegantly written, not sparing the brutalities of war, but not overly focused on them, either. I felt entirely immersed in this book. I felt like I was aboard ship during their voyages. It is among the best books I’ve read on the Battle of the Atlantic in WWII. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Cecrow
No author writing today, fiction or non-fiction, about the Battle of the Atlantic could match the authenticity of one who served and wrote this novel less than five years after the end of World War II. It is very raw and very real. Nicholas Monsarrat presented this as fiction, but it is easy to
By this means he had an outlet to share and expose what perhaps he could not more openly address in any other way: the creeping fear of death, the horrors witnessed, post-traumatic stress, anxiety about women left at home, the outrage with soft-living types who didn't appreciate their sacrifice, and the impossibility of conveying any of these feelings to their loved ones while on leave, knowing they must soon face it all again and fearing any loosening of their mettle.
I thought I'd heard all the horrors of war, but this was a whole new set to me. I thought submarines had it much worse, with their cramped and claustrophobic conditions, but it was really no better for those on the surface who felt their wretched vulnerability every moment at sea. Here are described months and months of convoy losses, hundreds of lives, with not a single submarine sinking to stand in the balance. Convoys that left port in strength, and arrived at their destination only a third their original size.
I'm only listing some dry facts. Read the novel and all of this comes to life, placing you there with the sailors, experiencing what they experienced, witnessing the personal costs. Even as fiction this serves as a fine testament, helping us never to forget what this generation sacrificed to do what they did.
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read him into the character of Lockhart, to view this as an amalgamation of his own recollections and the stories he heard from others who served.By this means he had an outlet to share and expose what perhaps he could not more openly address in any other way: the creeping fear of death, the horrors witnessed, post-traumatic stress, anxiety about women left at home, the outrage with soft-living types who didn't appreciate their sacrifice, and the impossibility of conveying any of these feelings to their loved ones while on leave, knowing they must soon face it all again and fearing any loosening of their mettle.
I thought I'd heard all the horrors of war, but this was a whole new set to me. I thought submarines had it much worse, with their cramped and claustrophobic conditions, but it was really no better for those on the surface who felt their wretched vulnerability every moment at sea. Here are described months and months of convoy losses, hundreds of lives, with not a single submarine sinking to stand in the balance. Convoys that left port in strength, and arrived at their destination only a third their original size.
I'm only listing some dry facts. Read the novel and all of this comes to life, placing you there with the sailors, experiencing what they experienced, witnessing the personal costs. Even as fiction this serves as a fine testament, helping us never to forget what this generation sacrificed to do what they did.
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LibraryThing member reading_fox
Surprisingly gripping read about the life and times of some of the sailors on 2 ships in WWII. the good times and the bad, the comradeship and life at war. Told in third person the personal stories of the captain, his leutenants and chief officers of a small frigate tasked to convoy protection
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during the bitter years of life at sea. Show Less
LibraryThing member malcrf
Simply excellent. It might be written of its time, but it needs to be, for it is about its time and the people and circumstances as they were then. Richly evocative and powerful.
Media reviews
Spectator
One of the best novels that have yet been written about sailors at war.
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9780141042831
Physical description
448 p.; 7.75 inches
Pages
448