HMS Marlborough Will Enter Harbour [Paperback]

Nicholas Monsarrat (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2008

In H.M.S. Marlborough Will Enter Harbour, an old sloop, homeward bound, is torpedoed, leaving her guns out of action, more than three-quarters of her crew dead, and radio contact impossible. But her valiant captain steadfastly refuses to surrender his ship... In Leave Cancelled, an army officer and his young wife concentrate their passionate love into twenty-four hours, knowing that it might be their last chance... And in Heavy Rescue, an old soldier, having lived on the scrap heap for more than twenty years, finds that gallantry is once again in demand when he becomes leader of a Heavy Rescue Squad...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nicholas Monsarrat was born in Liverpool and educated at Cambridge University, where he studied law. His career as a solicitor encountered a swift end when he decided to leave Liverpool for London, with a half-finished manuscript under his arm and ¿40 in his pocket. His first book to attract attention was the largely autobiographical 'This is the Schoolroom'. During World War II he joined the Royal Navy and served in corvettes. His war experience provided the framework for the novel 'HMS Marlborough will enter Harbour', one of his best known books. 'The Cruel Sea' was made into a classic film starring Jack Hawkins. Established as a top name writer, Monsarrat's career concluded with 'The Master Mariner'. Well known for his concise story telling andtense narrative, he became one of the most successful novelists of the twentieth century, whose rich and varied collection bears the hallmarks of a truly gifted writer. A professional who gives us our money's worth. The entertainment value is high' -Daily Telegraph

Product Details

• Paperback: 252 pages
• Publisher: House of Stratus; Revised edition (September 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842321471
• ISBN-13: 978-1842321478
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #741,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two wonderful novellas and a so-so one, March 20, 2010

By 

M. Fairchild "Books my thing" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: HMS Marlborough Will Enter Harbour (Paperback)

I'd recommend the book for two of its three offerings and not worry about the third. The title story is one of the great sea stories of World War II and is worth the price of the book. Buy it for that alone. I also enjoyed "Heavy Rescue," though it wasn't quite as compelling as the title story. "Leave Cancelled" was disappointing to me, though it may not be for you. I consider the title story as good as Montsarrat's classic novel "The Cruel Sea," if not better.

4.0 out of 5 stars Monsarrat Shows His Literary Prowess, December 21, 2011

By 

zorba (Bala Cynwyd, Pa USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: HMS Marlborough Will Enter Harbour (Paperback)

I firmly believe that Monsarrat's "The Cruel Sea" is one of the best books I ever read, but his short story "HMS Marlborough Will Enter Harbour" is of the same high quality of that epic book. "Marlborough" leads off the three short stories in this book and describes a crew's effort to survive after a German torpedo causes massive damage to their naval sloop returning to base after escorting a convoy across the Atlantic. It's seafaring writing at its best and, like "The Cruel Sea", gives us added dimension to tales of the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. As another reviewer has noted, the book is worth buying for the "Marlborough" story alone. I didn't finish the second story, "Leave Cancelled" -- I dunno I just couldn't get into it -- but the third story in the book, "Heavy Rescue" was a winner. It's the tale of a discontented World War I vet who finds meaning and purpose by volunteering for the unit which pulls survivors -- if any -- from the debris of the London Blitz. Anything Monsarrat has written is a gift, in my opinion, and this book is most enjoyable and unforgettable.