To commemorate this 71st anniversary of Pearl Harbor and America's sudden plunge into the terrible maelstrom of World War II, here are my nominees for the best sea/naval novels of World War II:
1. The Cruel Sea, Nicholas Monsarrat
2. The Caine Mutiny, Herman Wouk
3. Run Silent, Run Deep, Edward Beach
Of the three, Monsarrat best captures the pain, the endurance, the heroism that is duty performed. Wouk best portrays the development of callow youngsters into grown men, and Beach best depicts the tense oscillation between hunter and hunted in the nasty business of submarine warfare. Do you have other nominees -- for novels of the naval war of World War II?
May we never have to do what our fathers did for us in World War II.
I'd vote to add two: "HMS Ulysses", by Alistair MacLean, and "The Ship", by C S Forester. Like "The Cruel Sea", they're set in the Royal Navy, but the experiences - and the messages - are transcendent.
Posted by: Ian Holloway | December 08, 2012 at 01:03 PM
I will admit that my nomination for inclusion may be slightly out of your "sea/navel" category as it involves the Marines. Nevertheless, because the Marines are part of the Navy, I would nominate "Battle Cry" by Leon Uris.
Posted by: Ralph D. Clifford | December 08, 2012 at 02:07 PM
I think a few.mothers pitched in a little here and there.
Posted by: Eric Muller | December 08, 2012 at 04:47 PM
Mr. Muller,
You forgot to chide Mr. Massey for not posting about the many contributions people of color made for the United States war effort.
Posted by: jncc | December 10, 2012 at 10:19 PM