An Operational Necessity (Paperback)

~ Gwyn Griffin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Griffin's World War II novel follows the trial of a German submarine commander who violated the rules of war by ordering the crew of a French freighter killed after torpedoing their ship. One man survives to tell the tale and bring the U-boat skipper to justice. This book originally appeared in 1968.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"A Griffin novel . . . like a punch on the nose, holds one's complete attention." -- Orville Prescott, The New York Times

"Every novel Gwyn Griffin has written is strikingly original, but this beats them all...Masterful." -- Gilbert Highet

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 411 pages
• Publisher: Harvill Press (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186046596X
• ISBN-13: 978-1860465963
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,142,605 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A war story and reflection on crimes committed at war, June 8, 1999

By	Michael Khan (Darmstadt, Germany) - See all my reviews

A German submarine's crew sinks a British freight vessel in the waning days of WW-II. In order to prevent detection, the Germans gun down the survivors. Later, after surrendering at a tropical British island colony, the captain and 1st officer are found out, tried and executed. The novel combines a fictious - and quite gripping - account of naval warfare with a not so convincing love affair, and quite some philosophical reflection on what level of atrocity should be accepted in times of war. Typical for Griffin is the anti-British sentiment, which I find somewhat unsettling. However, he refrains from taking sides, leaving the final judgment to the reader. Of course, the logic is somewhat strained in parts ... I for one never understood why the sub sank the ship in the first place, if they were just attempting to lie low and avoid detection.