Away All Boats (Classics of Naval Literature) [Hardcover]

Kenneth Dodson (Author), Robert Shenk (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996 | Series: Classics of Naval Literature

A vivid portrayal of the officers and sailors of the fictional amphibious transport USS Belinda in the Pacific of World War II.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 444 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557501734
• ISBN-13: 978-1557501738
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,881,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent novel dealing with Naval amphbious warfare, May 29, 1999

By 

Catharine T. Clark Sayles "clarksayles" (CA ,USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Away All Boats (Classics of Naval Literature) (Hardcover)

Dodson's 'Away All Boats' is a novel that is both a study of human nature and the art of command. The central theme is the ship and it's missions. The charecters of the crew bring this mass of steel to life and give it personality. There are strong charecters amongst the officers as well as the Sailors. Likewise there are officers and Sailors that one would cross the street to avoid. they are all thrust into the confines of theat attack transport Belinda and give the story so much of it's richness. The captain is a driven man and his goal is to make his ship the best attack transport in the Pacific Fleet. HIs drive whittles down the rough edges and shows up the weak leaders and followers. He makes few friends but ultimately gains the respect of many. This book is an excellent leadership text and would aid many, in the military as well as the civilian world, as they work with what they have been given and turn their people into a cohesive whole. This is a masculine book; women appear only in letters. It is a monastic existence as the men serve the Gods of War and now that the bulk of U. S. Naval ships are crewed by men and women, it is a reflection on an era that is rapidly slipping into the realm of memories.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Life Disguised as Fiction, August 28, 2003

By 

Jim Allen "Jim Allen" (NW Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Away All Boats (Classics of Naval Literature) (Hardcover)

Kenneth Dodson poured a lifetime of seagoing experience into Away All Boats. I had the opportunity to get to know this remarkable man before his passing just a few years ago and heard some of the true-to-life experiences aboard U.S.S. Pierce that formed the basis of this book. Away All Boats is a story that will leave you feeling as tired as McDougal and the other men of the fictional U.S.S. Belinda. It's a strong story of teamwork, loyalty and people faced with challenges beyond human endurance. It's also a true picture of what life was like aboard a Navy attack transport. In fact, this book has long been required reading at the Naval Academy for it's accurate picture of amphibious warfare. Like McDougal, the protagonist in Away All Boats, Dodson skippered merchant ships in the 1930s. He got to know Charles Lindbergh while carrying him, Anne Morrow Lindbergh and their aircraft back from an Asian airline route scouting trip. Dodson spent the end of 1941 dodging Japanese forces in the Pacific before voluntarily leaving command of a merchant ship for a lieutenant's berth in the U.S. Navy. If you want a three dimensional look at a seldom covered aspect of WWII Navy operations, Away All Boats is a top pick.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars time to read it again, February 11, 2007

By 

JohnnyE "Texas Progressive" (College Station, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Away All Boats (Classics of Naval Literature) (Hardcover)

I read this book a long time ago and I'm long overdue to read it again. I've spent some time at sea on merchant vessels and research ships. His descriptions of life on board make you feel like you are right there with all the sounds and smells of a working ship. It's one of my favorite alltime books. It's a great movie too. Not just for lovers of sea stories.