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Das Boot

The epic Second World War novel, adapted into the classic film

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Das Boot

By: Lothar Gunther Buchheim
Narrated by: Tim Bruce
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The classic Second World War novel that inspired the acclaimed 1981 film

'Breathless, terrifying U-boat drama . . . a masterclass in economical, tight-space story telling, piling the pressure on both characters and audience' TIME OUT
'Riveting' NEW YORK TIMES
'Dynamic . . . striking . . . relentless' KIRKUS

It is autumn 1941 and a German U-boat commander and his crew set out on yet another hazardous patrol in the Battle of the Atlantic.

Over the coming weeks they must brave the stormy waters of the Atlantic in their mission to seek out and destroy British supply ships. But the tide is beginning to turn against the Germans in the war for the North Atlantic. Their targets now travel in convoys, fiercely guarded by Royal Navy destroyers, and when contact is finally made, the hunters rapidly become the hunted.

As the U-boat is forced to hide beneath the surface of the sea, a game of cat-and-mouse begins, where the increasing claustrophobia of the submarine becomes an enemy as frightening as the depth charges that explode around it. Of the 40,000 men who served on German submarines, 30,000 never returned.

Written by a survivor of the U-boat fleet, Das Boot is a psychological, military drama merciless in its intensity, and an epic rendering of the Second World War.

Readers love the WWII classic:

'An all-time naval classic' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'One of the best books ever written' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Incredible true-to-life story of men serving in a U-boat, told by someone who was actually there' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A pure delight to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This classic novel of U-boat life in wartime has lost nothing with age. A gripping read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Couldn't put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 20th Century Action & Adventure Engineering Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Military War & Military Submarine U-Boat War Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

Breathless, terrifying U-boat drama ... a masterclass in economical, tight-space storytelling, piling the pressure on both characters and audience
All stars
Most relevant
Should of had a narrator with a German accent instead of a posh English one. Didn't seem to work, trying to imagine grimey German sailors and a tough captain, all cramped in together with that accent.

Too Posh.

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Excellent story and very in-depth too, just wish it had carried on and not finished where it did

Great story

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The book is not complete last chapter will not play so what can you do

The last will not play

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The delivery of narrator was outstanding, celery of actor flat interjected with pace and force when action as nd drama at it's height. Reflected the the 99 percent boredom and routine of crew life and 1 percent terror and panic. there were times I was imaging myself in the uboat. loved every chapter from start to end.

The teasing out of the conversation between the "old man" and his crew is a wonderful piece of work. Left me wanting more.

Wonderful narration and story

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I am British I lost uncle Frank whilst flying with RAF costal command, This book highlights that under whatever nationality we may fight deep down we are all the same. Shame about some of our so called leaders!!

Humanity

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