The Cruel Sea (Classics of War): Amazon.co.uk: Nicholas Monsarrat: Books

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Product Description

About the Author

After the war, Monsarrat's career as diplomat and novelist took every twist and turn in the book. He died of cancer in 1979 and was buried at sea from a destroyer, off Portsmouth. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

50 Reviews

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
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Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (50 customer reviews)

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46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A realistic and thoughtful look at men at war, with a fine performance by Jack Hawkins, 12 Jun 2007

By	C. O. DeRiemer (San Antonio, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Cruel Sea [DVD] [1953] (DVD)

The Cruel Sea is, in my view, one of the best movies yet made dealing with naval men at war in WWII. It's the story of the Compass Rose, newly commissioned in 1940 as a convoy escort, and the officers and men who served on her. Her captain (Jack Hawkins) was fresh from the merchant marine; her new officers had seen almost no sea duty. They learned on the job as they protected convoys in the North Atlantic and then in the run to the Mediterranean.

What makes this movie so good is its matter-of-factness. There are no heroics, just men learning their jobs and doing their duty, with some who die and some who survive. The scene where Captain Ericson decides to use depth charges to destroy a suspected submarine hiding below a group of struggling survivors from a torpedoed freighter is harrowing. The DVD I saw has a good but by no means first-class image transfer.

The novel, The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat, is largely forgotten now. It remains one of the most evocative books to come out of WWII. The movie is well worth seeing. The book is certainly well worth reading.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling , 30 Nov 2004

By	B. Jonsson "Literate Warlock" (falun, dalarna sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Cruel Sea (Paperback)

The Cruel Sea had been in my book shelf for years, as part of some book sale deal when I first opened it. Not knowing what to expect, I started reading with an open mind and found myself completely enclosed by the atmosphere of WW2.

The book, a literary masterpiece, slowly and humbly tells us stories of war, fighting and death as well as love, longing and comradeship. The characters so real and true, it is hard to believe this is not based on real events. Or should I say, of course it is! Montsarrat is well acquainted with naval affairs, having worked as an officer himself and having lived through the war. Of course characters resemble persons he has met and actions are of course depicted in the most realistic ways, I wouldn't know, being totally ignorant to naval ways.

What i do know, however, is that I still think this may be the best book I have ever read! Montsarrat was indeed a compelling author and i have tried to find more novels by him.

I recommend you to read this book, for no other reason than that it is wonderful literature.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best war at sea film ever made., 6 Jun 2000

By	Mr. M. Hatherell "Mark Hatherell" (Vauxhall, London, England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Cruel Sea [VHS] [1953] (VHS Tape)

This film should be compulsory viewing for all would be film directors looking to make a war film. After watching the much hyped 'Saving Private Ryan' at the cinema my first thoughts on coming out into the light of day 'Not a patch on 'The Cruel Sea'. And it's true 'The Cruel Sea' is a materpiece of the story tellers art faithfully translated on to the big screen, the actors all put in excellent performances with Jack Hawkins managing to out shine everyone. I can't rate this film highly enough, it is an all time great and it deserves to be remembered as the materpiece it truely is.