Greyhound (Movie Tie-In)

A Novel

By: C. S. Forester

Narrated by: Jim Frangione

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks, a World War II naval thriller of "high and glittering excitement" (The New York Times) from the author of the legendary Hornblower series.

The mission of Commander George Krause of the United States Navy is to protect a convoy of 37 merchant ships making their way across the icy North Atlantic from America to England. There, they will deliver desperately needed supplies, but only if they can make it through the wolf pack of German submarines that awaits and outnumbers them in the perilous seas. For 48 hours, Krause will play a desperate cat-and-mouse game against the submarines, combating exhaustion, hunger, and thirst to protect 50 million dollars worth of cargo and the lives of 3,000 men.

Originally published as The Good Shepherd and acclaimed as one of the best novels of the year in 1955, here is a riveting classic of World War II and naval warfare from one of the 20th century's masters of sea stories.

©1955 C. S. Forester (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A high and glittering excitement...[Forester] has no master and few peers." (The New York Times)

"Nothing more exciting has been launched since Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea." (The Guardian)

"C. S. Forester is the best living writer about the sea." (Time)

One of my favorite books finally recorded.

I have always checked on audiobooks to see if “The Good Shepherd “ by C.S. Forester has finally been done and when Tom Hanks made a movie of it (Greyhound) two readings of it were done with two different readers. This is the better of the two by a wide margin. By the way, the movie is also excellent with the screen play by Tom Hanks capturing the mood of the book perfectly. It’s a wonderful story about an average person rising to greatness in a trying effort to shepherd a convoy across the Atlantic in the early days of World War II. The isolation of the person in command combines with self doubt, fatigue and determination to make a fascinating and compelling story. I don’t read very well anymore and this audiobook has given me an old friend brought back to see me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Engaging

This is not a book for everyone. Yet I personally found it captivating. The story is delivered well in a staccato fashion which heightens the intrigue. It was not just an exciting story though. Duty, sacrifice, faith and personal responsibility are on full display. I am grateful to be reminded of people who exhibit such. Well done.

Not As Good As the Movie

This book is very different from the movie. It has a lot less action, but you can learn a lot about the thinking of the commander. Glad I listened to it.

True Eye Opener To Duty and Honor

I am exhausted as I complete this well written and perfectly performed testimonial to the brave and dedicated sailors from The Battle of The Atlantic.

Exhausted, yes. Yet I am in awe of the men and women of “The Greatest Generation” who overcame obstacles we can’t possibly understand today, to defeat the totalitarian evil that confronted them.

My Father was one of them- on the California at Pearl and a Purple Heart recipient at Guadalcanal. While he would NEVER discuss the war, this book helps me understand the sacrifices, mental anguish and selfless dedication from his generation of citizen warriors.

A great story

Really great story about bravery and real world action. Really glad that I listened to the book . Would buy again!

Interesting glimpse of a WW2 convoy but tiring dialogue

I liked the interesting storyline with its historical perspective of convoys traversing dangerous U-boat infested seas but its redundant narrative in the bridge was tiring. Personalities of officers on the bridge, other than the captain, were barely developed and lowly enlisted sailors were reduced to servants with limited capabilities.

CS Scores again.

Hornblower brought forward in time 150 years. Excellent description of WWII antisubmarine warfare. Hard situation in the North Atlantic.

Great book from beginning to end!

I liked so many things, and that makes it hard to just name a few. So, I will just say an all encompassing statement that it was a great book.

More real than you can imagine....

As a retired officer who served on destroyers and submarines and also familiar with anti-submarine warfare, I attest to the wonderful genuineness of this story. It is accurate in all detail, but more, it reveals the incredible thoughts and machinations of the mind while in combat and command. This read is an experience!

The movie

In a way I was a little disappointed having seen the movie first. I kept thinking the movie and book would be closer but once I got into the story I enjoyed it