Forester, C.S. The Ship

A riveting look at the wartime life of officers and sailors aboard a British light cruiser (the fictitious H.M.S. ARTEMIS) on Mediterranean duty as the ship provides convoy escort to merchant ships bound for Malta from Alexandria. Its climax occurs when warships of the “Eyety navy” attack the Allied convoy and a fierce naval engagement takes place. The novel was written at the height of hostilities; a May 22, 1943 The Times Literary Supplement review notes: “Splendidly vivid in description, Mr. Forester celebrates the letter and the spirit of the engagement with what seems to be absolute fidelity.” Though focused on British naval action, Forester’s The Ship is included in this bibliography for its impressive, intense descriptions of 1942 Malta merchant convoy duty.