HMS Ulysses

By: Alistair MacLean

Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver

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.

Critic reviews

‘A brilliant, overwhelming piece of descriptive writing.’
Observer

‘A story of exceptional courage which grips the imagination.’
Daily Telegraph

‘It deserves an honourable place among 20th-century war books.’
Daily Mail

‘HMS Ulysses is in the same class as The Cruel Sea.’
Evening Standard

Suspenseful but bleak and unrealistic

I wanted to enjoy this book. I was looking forward to a thriller about the arctic convoys in WWII, which is a subject I'm somewhat knowledgeable about. Almost from the beginning though the story of HMS Ulysses felt not real. A mutiny on a Royal Navy cruiser during the war? Everyone involved would have been severely punished.

I don't want to give any spoilers which makes describing the rest of the book difficult. However, readers will probably realize that HMS Ulysses falls into the "everybody dies" category. As soon as you develop an affinity with a character, the story line changes. Perhaps that is the reason that this book was never filmed.

Even a plot like that might not be a big obstacle, but the events described during the escorting mission are far worse than anything experienced in reality by a convoy, even PQ-17 which was almost entirely destroyed. The characters are never more than caricatures. One doesn't get to know the eventual survivors in any detail.

Fantastic!

This narrator will grow on you, trust me. Brilliant book. This week flew under the radar for decades. A close story to PQ17, the real convoy of note.

Perfection

Alistair Maclean is the best author ever.
Jonathan Oliver is the very best narrator ever.
Perfection!

Endurance and courage on the Murmansk run.

I read this decades ago and it has remained in my mind whenever I see references to the Arctic convoys. I think as disappointed in the narration - it was to hearty when at times it should have been more thoughtful. I think this also made some of the narrative sound naive and stilted. I was a gripping story and some parts had horrifying descriptions of warfare scenes.

Amazing but heartbreaking and sad.

One of the most heartbreaking, saddest books I've ever read. The novel has stuck with me for over 50 years, reading it first at the age of 15 and now as an audiobook. I am fascinated by the nature of leadership, heroism, and our human response to extreme physical and psychological environments. Amundsen, Shackleton, and Bligh come to mind in listening to MacLean's imaginary Captain Vallery of the HMS Ulysses.