Historical fiction book · Curated
The Caine Mutiny
Herman Wouk · historical fiction
In the Pacific war, Ensign Willie Keith serves on the minesweeper USS Caine under Lieutenant Commander Philip Queeg, until a typhoon pushes the officers to relieve him and a court-martial calls it mutiny. Herman Wouk’s 1951 novel is World War II military historical fiction of that ship, that storm, and the trial that follows.
Why read it: A widely searched World War II novel—the Wouk title readers look up by name (Pulitzer Prize), and a Pacific-ship counterpart to The Winds of War already on the shelf (not War and Remembrance).
About this historical novel
The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk is historical fiction set around 1943–1945 in the World War II era period with key settings including USS Caine, the Pacific, San Francisco, New York. In the Pacific war, Ensign Willie Keith serves on the minesweeper USS Caine under Lieutenant Commander Philip Queeg, until a typhoon pushes the officers to relieve him and a court-martial calls it mutiny. Herman Wouk’s 1951 novel is World War II military historical fiction of that ship, that storm, and the trial that follows.
On HisFic we tag it under 5. Military & war and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include mutiny, command, the Navy, a typhoon, and duty. A widely searched World War II novel—the Wouk title readers look up by name (Pulitzer Prize), and a Pacific-ship counterpart to The Winds of War already on the shelf (not War and Remembrance).
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Plot summary
In the Pacific war, Ensign Willie Keith serves on the minesweeper USS Caine under Lieutenant Commander Philip Queeg, until a typhoon pushes the officers to relieve him and a court-martial calls it mutiny. Herman Wouk’s 1951 novel is World War II military historical fiction of that ship, that storm, and the trial that follows. A widely searched World War II novel—the Wouk title readers look up by name (Pulitzer Prize), and a Pacific-ship counterpart to The Winds of War already on the shelf (not War and Remembrance).
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- From Here to Eternity · James Jones
In February 1941 Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt reports to G Company at Schofield Barracks and refuses to box for the company, while First Sergeant Milt Warden risks his career with the commanding officer’s wife, and both are still in Hawaii when the attack hits Pearl Harbor. James Jones’s 1951 novel is World War II military historical fiction of the Regular Army in the last months before the United States enters the war.
- Das Boot · Lothar-Günther Buchheim
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- Catch-22 · Joseph Heller
On the Mediterranean island of Pianosa in 1944, bombardier John Yossarian is told he can be grounded if he is crazy, and that asking to be grounded proves he is sane, while Colonel Cathcart raises the number of missions again. Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel is World War II military historical fiction of an American bomber squadron, the rule they call Catch-22, and a man the paperwork will not let leave the war.
- The Book Thief · Markus Zusak
A girl steals books in Nazi Germany; Death narrates a story of words and survival.
- The Winds of War · Herman Wouk
In 1939 Navy commander Victor “Pug” Henry is posted to Berlin as the American naval attaché, and the war pulls his wife Rhoda, their children, and a Jewish daughter-in-law through Germany, Britain, and Russia until Pearl Harbor, where the battleship he was about to command is hit before he can go aboard. Herman Wouk’s 1971 novel is World War II saga historical fiction of one navy family from the invasion of Poland to the day the United States enters the war.
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas · John Boyne
Nine-year-old Bruno is moved from Berlin to a lonely house beside a fence his sister calls Out-With; from his window he sees people in striped pajamas, and he makes a secret friend named Shmuel on the other side. John Boyne’s 2006 novel is WWII Holocaust historical fiction told as a child’s fable: a friendship through the wire at Auschwitz, and a title readers still search by name.
Regions & places
North America
USS Caine · the Pacific · San Francisco · New York
Themes
- mutiny
- command
- the Navy
- a typhoon
- duty
Tags
war · award-winner · classic