HMS Ulysses

Alistair MacLean

Nov 2009 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

The novel that launched the astonishing career of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers of action and suspense – an acclaimed classic of heroism and the sea in World War II.

Constant patrols have pushed the crew of the HMS Ulysses beyond the limits of endurance. And now they must be put to sea again, to escort a vital supply convoy heading for Murmansk.

As they head deep into the frozen waters they are faced not only with the fierce arctic weather, but a swarm of airborne attacks, German ships, then the feared U-boats, all hellbent on destroying the convoy.

With each day threatening another sudden attack, and increasing hardships aboard the frozen ship, Ulysses suffers greater damage trying to protect the other vessels. And soon the journey becomes a tense and deadly game of cat and mouse between the crippled cruiser and her silent pursuers.

Ratings and reviews

The world's best storyteller manages to do two things at once. He narrates a fantastic story impeccably, and, unlike other popular authors, doesn't resort to lurid descriptions of sex or pepper the dialogues of his characters with foul language! An excellent classic that transcends the trammels of time. Alistair Maclean's death in 1987 caused irrepairable damage to English literature.

A masterful discription of life at sea in the Artic. Having crused there myself in the Navy, I found his tale one yhat brought back memories of my own time at sea.

Classic read ...characters that come to life and death in gripping realism ..moving and dramatic story portraying the harshness of that conflict at sea

About the author

Alistair MacLean, the son of a Scots minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941 he joined the Royal Navy. After the war he read English at Glasgow University and became a schoolmaster. The two and a half years he spent aboard a wartime cruiser were to give him the background for HMS Ulysses, his remarkably successful first novel, published in 1955. He is now recognized as one of the outstanding popular writers of the 20th century, the author of 29 worldwide bestsellers, many of which have been filmed.