H.M.S. Ulysses by Alistair MacLean

From the year 1941 until the end of World War II, Alistair Maclean served in the Royal Navy with the ranks of Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, and Leading Torpedo Operator. This experience served him well when he launched his writing career with his debut novel, “H.M.S. Ulysses” in 1955, considered by many to be his best. Of course, he went on to great acclaim and a distinguished bestseller career despite the fact that he claimed never to have enjoyed writing but did it merely as a source of income.

This novel features the HMS Ulysses, a light cruiser that is among the best armed and fastest ships in the British Navy. The story begins in the aftermath of a mutiny born of an overworked and exhausted crew. Senior Navy officers have decided to let her prove herself by sending her out on yet another mission: to escort a critical convoy of 32 ships through the treacherous Arctic Sea to Russian allies in Murmansk. Along the way, they face extreme challenges in the form of unusually harsh Arctic storms, German ships, packs of U-boats, as well as repeated air attacks. 

A number of interesting characters populate HMS Ulysses, not the least of which is her Captain, a man suffering the advanced stages of TB but who nevertheless symbolizes the good luck of the ship’s past missions and any hope to survive this one. Few crew members are motivated by concepts such as honor, courage, etc. but rather it is their resilience that pushes them to hero status. There is a fair amount of technical jargon, but MacLean’s prose is filled with vivid descriptions of the harsh environment, the raw feeling of utter loneliness, and the crew’s growing exhaustion and desperation. This is a marvelous depiction of wartime naval operations, and a stunning portrayal of how men can push past the bounds of endurance.