The Oceans and the Stars

A Sea Story, A War Story, A Love Story; The Seven Battles and Mutiny of Athena, Patrol Coastal Ship 15

De: Mark Helprin

Narrado por: Traber Burns

Mark Helprin, New York Times bestselling author of Winter’s Tale and A Soldier of the Great War, returns with a fast-paced, beautifully written novel about the majesty of the sea; a life dedicated to duty, honor, and country; and the gift of falling in love.

A Navy captain near the end of a decorated career, Stephen Rensselaer is disciplined, intelligent, and determined always to do what’s right. In defending the development of a new variant of warship, he makes an enemy of the president of the United States, who assigns him to command the doomed line’s only prototype­—Athena, Patrol Coastal 15­­—with the intent to humiliate a man who should have been an admiral.

Rather than resign, Rensselaer takes the new assignment in stride, and while supervising Athena’s fitting out in New Orleans, encounters a brilliant lawyer, Katy Farrar, with whom he falls in last-chance love. Soon thereafter, he is deployed on a mission that subjects his integrity, morality, and skill to the ultimate test and which ensures that Athena will live forever in the annals of the Navy.

As in the Odyssey, Katy is the force that keeps him alive and the beacon that lights the way home through seven battles, mutiny, and court martial.

In classic literary form, an enthralling new novel that extolls the virtues of living by the laws of conscience, decency, and sacrifice, The Oceans and the Stars is nothing short of a masterpiece.

©2023 Mark Helprin. Published in 2023 by The Overlook Press, an imprint of ABRAMS, New York. All rights reserved. (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Creative writing

Great details of naval battles and a man’s love of the sea and a woman

Great Book / Wonderful Story

What a great book-could not put it down - stop listening. I love the moral compass of Mark Helprin!

I have no words…

I have no words to describe the beauty of this at once contemporary yet classic tale of sea, war and love. Just read/listen to it and you will see/hear. Yes, there are some brutal episodes, such as cannot be avoided in a military story. However the valor, decency, and soul of the main character in particular restored my belief that such honorable and truly lovable men do exist!

Pleasant surprise

Though spending 12 years in the service, I tend to not enjoy military books. This however, was a pleasant surprise and a perfect read for the week of July the 4th. The Narrator was excellent and I will seek other book read by them.

Great story. Excellent audiobook.

Was excellent start to finish. Maybe as good as A Soldier of the Great War if not better. Loved it. Loved the audio. Will wait a few months and read it.

A great yarn

I most liked Rensselaer’s attitude about things: his courage, integrity and ability to innovate and improvise. He was the true embodiment of a leader.

fearless and beautiful

I devoured Mark Helprin's new novel, which you ABSOLUTELY MUST READ. Anyone who loves America and loves inspired writing and enduring values should not miss it!

If you are not offended by notions like beauty, honor and virtue, you will find this book courageous and fulfilling.

Exciting and satisfying

My first experience with Halpern, I will definitely look into all his work.
The detail was there, but not too much. The writing descriptive and satisfying, the character development exactly as I like it, and the presentation excellent. 5 stars in my world.

Spellbinding

Not since Winds of War have I been so entranced—a lose yourself for a weekend immersion that both The NYT’s and Economists’ book mavens somehow missed.

Very good story

A bit too much ancillary verbiage for me. Loved the story line, less detail on other stuff