Three Little Ships [Hardcover]

Lilian Harry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

During just nine days in the early summer of 1940, nearly 800 "little ships," from lifeboats and passenger steamers to small private yachts and dinghies, set off across the English Channel to rescue almost half a million men trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. As each boat ferries exhausted men from the beaches to the waiting ships, under incessant fire from enemy aircraft and in a sea awash with debris and bodies, the men are unknowingly united by a powerful driving force—the urgent need to find one man, brother or son, who matters more to them than anyone else. Each of these missing men has a family, a wife or a sweetheart at home who is anxiously waiting for news—and one sweetheart in particular is determined to play her own part in the rescue.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'A splendid read and a triumph for Lilian Harry.' WESTERN DAILY PRESS 'moving, well-crafted saga' COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH 'She [Lilian Harry] brings to Three Little Ships the drama, warmth and personal touch her fans have loved in 15 pervious books.' BELFAST TELEGRAPH

About the Author

Lilian Harry grew up in Portsmouth and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She has a son, a daughter and two grandchildren, and is a keen walker.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 358 pages
• Publisher: Orion Publishing (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752867180
• ISBN-13: 978-0752867182
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,106,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi,I am Lilian Harry and am delighted to welcome you to my Author Central page. I've been writing for a long time now, under the name Donna Baker as well as Lilian Harry, and most of my books are classed as 'historical novels', including those set during the Second World War (which is slightly hurtful, since I remember it....) I grew up near Portsmouth in Hampshire, have lived in Devon, Herefordshire and the Lake District (my favourite place!) and am now back in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor, where I am out every day walking my miniature schnauzer. Apart from writing, I ring bells, take part in amateur dramatics, go to concerts, theatre etc, read and play bridge - but only with very tolerant, forgiving people who like me a lot. (Or on the computer!) I would like to be cloned so that I can do all these things simultaneously.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cockleshell heros, January 12, 2006

By 

Beverley Strong (Australia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Three Little Ships (Audio CD)

In the early summer of 1940, the British army was forced into retreat by the invading German army, which was swarming over France. In a desperate attempt to return the soldiers to England, so that the British army could regroup, Winston Churchill called upon the owners of any kind of seacraft, over 30 feet long, to travel in a convoy to the sea port of Dunkirk in France, to help pick up the men stranded on the beach and to ferry them to waiting naval ships for their return to England. The naval vessels were too big to get in close enpugh to the shore, so smaller craft with a shallow draw were essential. Boating people from all over the land volunteered their vessels and the most amazing armada since the days of Drake, was formed and was either towed by bigger boats or went under their own steam. This is the simply, but effectively told story of three separate families who took part in this valiant operation. For days on end, these tiny boats plied backwards and forwards, ferrying the soldiers, with themselves being under constant strafing and bombing attacks from the Luftwaffe. It's a story of the great courage shown by ordinary people when driven to the edge by the unspeakable horrors of war.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ms. Harry best book so far, July 20, 2006

By 

M. E. Newell (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

"Three Little Ships" has to be the best book by Lilian Harry so far. She tells the story of the evaction of Dunkirk from the point of view of the three captains of boat that were call upon to rescue trapped BEF who trapped on the French Beach in the mid 1940's. She also gives the readed an idea about what it must have been like waiting on the beach, hoping to make it off before the Germans came.

To me, this is the best book that Ms. Harry has done to date and I can't wait to read more by her.