y separately published work icon Abandon and Destroy single work   novel   war literature   adventure  
Issue Details: First known date: 1963... 1963 Abandon and Destroy
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Pelican' was the oldest and slowest destroyer in the flotilla. Rust-streaked and narrow-gutted, lacking modern equipment, she would be no loss to the Royal Australian Navy. Yet her tough, casual captain commanding an apparently ill-disciplined crew proudly scorned the order to abandon and destroy. - back cover

Notes

  • Author's note: 'Few of the characters and none of the incidents in this story are imaginary. Only the names are changed; of men because many of them are married now, and they had enough conflict then without my making more for them in Civvy street. Those nights in the Gut of Malta and Sister Street of Alexandria are best left locked within memory - unless as here, they are cloaked under assumed names. As for plot, there's not much of it, in the accepted sense of novel construction. But there is a theme, and it concerns the uncomplicated qualities of courage, and character, and devotion to an ideal, and the fiercely touchy pride of a crew of buccaneers for a ship which should have been sent to the breakers long before she was called upon to fight for her life. And if it reads like a one-man war - well, then, that, precisely, is what it was.' - from frontmatter, 1963 imprint

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      Melbourne, Victoria,: Horwitz ,
      1963 .
      Extent: 160p.
      Series: J. E. Macdonnell J. E. Macdonnell Series Horwitz (publisher), 1957 series - publisher novel war literature adventure Number in series: 51
    • Cammeray, Cremorne - Mosman - Northbridge area, Sydney Northeastern Suburbs, Sydney, New South Wales,: Horwitz , 1975 .
      Extent: 160p.
      ISBN: 0725502797
      Series: J. E. Macdonnell Classic Series The J. E. Macdonnell Classic Library Horwitz (publisher), 1969 series - publisher novel war literature adventure On back cover series No.1: The J. E. Macdonnell Classic Library. Here is a new-look series of books by Australia's finest writer of sea stories, reprints of his earliest novels which have long been unavailable. Presented in a new format, with distinctive silver covers, this series is the answer to the requests of the author's many readers. Here are exciting examples of the storyteller's art, engrossing stories of naval action during the Second World War, when the author's most famous characters - Bentley, Holland and Brady - first appeared in print. And when you have read the early tales, you will also want to read the continuing exploits of these heroic sea warriors in the uniform editions of the Sea Adventure Library. Number in series: 50
Language: Swedish
Last amended 14 Jul 2010 09:34:26
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