H.M.S. Saracen
by Douglas Reeman
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Description
Malta 1941. To most people HMS Saracen is just an ugly, obsolete ship with an equally ugly recent history: her last commander is due for court-martial after shelling the troops he was sent to protect. But to Captain Richard Chesnaye she brings back memories-memories of the First World War when he and the old monitor went through the Gallipoli campaign together. It seems that captain and ship are both past their best. But as the war enters a new phase, Chesnaye senses the possibility of a show more fresh, significant role-for him and the Saracen. show lessTags
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A Book set aboard a WWI Monitor, which was still around for WWII in the Med. As a war gamer, I always found Monitors a great tactical problem, with big guns but no speed. They had to be very carefully handled to be around long enough to have an effect on the battle. I admire the ingenuity that Reeman exercises to use the ship in a tactical setting. The rest of the story deals with the value of tradition in a fighting force, especially the WWII RN.
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Author Information
125+ Works 14,239 Members
Douglas Reeman was born in 1924 in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England. At the the beginning of World War II, he joined the Royal Navy age of 16. His naval experiences have been major influences on his works. Reeman is regarded as the master of sea stories. In 1958, his first novel, A Prayer for the Ship was published. Under the pseudonym, Alexander show more Kent, he wrote over 20 novels including the best-selling Richard Bolitho novels. Under his real name, he has written over 30 novels including the Royal Marines Saga. His works as Kent and Reeman are published in 14 languages around the world. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1965
- People/Characters
- Captain Richard Chesnaye; Midshipman Pickles; Commander Godden; Captain Royston-Jones; Midshipman Beaushears; Anne Curzon
- Important events
- Gallipoli
- Epigraph
- [None]
- Dedication
- [None]
- First words
- In fierce short gusts the bitter north wind swept across the wide confines of Portsmouth harbour, the ranks of wavelets made by the incoming tide crumbling into white confusion at each successive blast.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 823.914 — Literature & rhetoric English & Old English literatures English fiction 1900- 1901-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ4 .R328 — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction in English
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 133
- Popularity
- 245,842
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.58)
- Languages
- 5 — Dutch, English, German, Norwegian, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 23
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 6
