The Guns of Navarone (novel)

Infobox Book
name = The Guns of Navarone
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = One cover for "The Guns of Navarone"
author = Alistair MacLean
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = World War II Novel
publisher = Collins
release_date = 1957
media_type = Print (Hardcover & Paperback)
pages = ?
isbn = NA
preceded_by = HMS Ulysses
followed_by = South by Java Head:"This article is about the novel. For the film see The Guns of Navarone (film) "

"The Guns of Navarone" is a well-known 1957 novel about World War II by Scottish thriller writer Alistair MacLean that was made into an equally acclaimed "The Guns of Navarone" film in 1961.

Plot introduction

The story concerns the efforts of an Allied commando team to destroy a seemingly impregnable German fortress that threatens Allied naval ships in the Aegean Sea, and prevents over 1,200 isolated British troops from being rescued. The story is based on the real events surrounding the Battle of Leros in World War II.

"The Guns of Navarone" brought together elements that would characterise much of MacLean's subsequent works: tough, competent, worldly men as main characters; frequent but non-graphic violence; betrayal of the hero(es) by a trusted associate; and extensive use of the ocean and other dangerous environments as settings. Its three principal characters — New Zealand mountaineer-turned-commando Keith Mallory, American demolitions expert "Dusty" Miller, and Greek resistance fighter Andrea Stavros — are among the most fully drawn in all of MacLean's work.

Literary significance & criticism

In 1990 the British Crime Writer's Association placed "The Guns of Navarone" 89th on its The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time list.

The success of the book's film adaptation made Alistair MacLean write the only sequel of his writing career, "Force 10 from Navarone" (1968).

Film, TV, Radio or theatrical adaptations

in 1997, BBC Radio 2 produced a two-hour adaptation for radio written by Bert Coules and directed by Patrick Rayner. The cast included:
* Toby Stephens as "Mallory"
* David Rintoul as "Andrea"
* Michael Williams as "Commodore Jensen"
* John Guerrasio as "Miller"
* Alex Norton as "Brown"
* Peter Kenny as "Stevens"

see also The Guns of Navarone (film)

In Music

The song The Mission (1943) by American metal band Jag Panzer is based on the same historical events as the novel.

External links

* [http://www.alistairmaclean.de/Navarone.htm Book review at Alistairmaclean.de (German)]