A Flock of Ships

by Brian Callison

Book Overview

In 1941 MV Cyclops was torpedoed and sunk. 25 years later, the Cyclops is discovered in the South Atlantic. Virtually undamaged, she lies rotting in the land-locked harbour of Quintanilha de Almeida -... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0006148433
• ISBN13: 9780006148432
• Release Date: November 1986
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.26 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Logbook entry left undone

This book certainly has all the details of military and civilian shipboard life done in a way that is sure to keep your interest. Historically set in World War II, the ship's log details how these vessels came to this remote island ,and the fate of the crews who had manned the ships. The dialog is quick paced and mirrors the attitudes of the Allied crews vs. their German adversaries. If you want to explore a sea mystery from a bygone era; I would recommend that you try this one, for its rendering of the seafarers' trials during the time when the Allied victory hinged on the performance of civilians, as well as military personnel. Their heroism has been overlooked for the most part in history books, but you will find it vividly described here in their performance under adversity.

A great war story

I remember this book being on my fathers bookshelf when i was a kid. I can still remember asking him what it was about. So, recently I was obliged to finally read the book. I can honestly say it is one of the top ten books i have have ever read. The story starts off at a fast pace and never stops. If you are a fan of World War Two naval action, do yourself a favor and read this book. The story goes: A survey vessel enters the harbor of an island in the middle of nowhere to find the rusting hulks of some merchant vessels and German submarines. After searching one the freighters they find a ship's log which tells the story of the fateful trip. The rest of the story is told in flasback to world war two through the log. The version I have has a quote from Alistair Maclean on the back cover, "This is the best war story I have ever read". I would have to agree.