“One of the best adventure stories to come out of any war . . . a story of heroism and high endeavor upon the sea.” –The New York Times Book Review “Mr. Howarth does an especially good job of describing, without any heroics, the vicissitudes undergone by the survivors of these expeditions, many of whom managed to fight their way out of Norway and to freedom.” –The New Yorker “One after another of Howarth’s stories shows the skill, hardihood, and sheer courage of his men.” –Chicago Tribune “For many of us the stories of Beowulf and Siegfried were required reading, but here in this modern saga are tales of resourcefulness, discipline, character and heroism which match the courage of those legendary heroes and excel them by their impulsion of patriotism and brotherly love.” –Christian Science Monitor

David Howarth ran a spy ring during World War II from which this book was derived. Mr. Howarth, who died in 1991, was the author of two dozen major books of history.