Book Review: The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk

“You can’t understand command till you’ve had it. It’s the loneliest, most oppressive job in the whole world. It’s a nightmare, unless you’re an ox. You’re forever teetering along a tiny path of correct decisions and good luck that meanders through an infinite gloom of possible mistakes.”

Herman Wouk, The Caine Mutiny

Review:

After reading The Winds of War duology by Herman Wouk over a year ago, I was curious to read more by him. Although his writing is slow to build, it does not disappoint. 

Willie Kieth joins the Navy after college. He’s still very much a boy, unsure of his future, stringing along his girlfriend, May Wynn, unable to reconcile their differences in backgrounds. He struggles through his training, but is committed. Eventually, he lands an assignment on the USS Caine.

Under Lieutenant Commander De Vriess, the Caine is in need of order. Enter Captain Queeg. Though he is by the book and whips the men into shape, it becomes apparent that there is more to Queeg’s scrupulosity. When a typhoon hits, Lieutenant Steve Maryk, Lieutenant Tom Keefer, and Willie Kieth remove Queeg from command. The Caine is saved, but the mutiny ends in a court-martial.

For a while, I was just waiting for the book to be over because I didn’t care much for Willie, and it was so slow to build. But once I got to the strawberries… I was so curious to see how everything was going to play out. Then, when I saw that Humphrey Bogart played Queeg in the film, I could so easily envision the character. As tempted as I was to jump into the film before I finished the book, I held off, and I look forward to watching it now that I’m finished. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Queeg is such a fascinating character.
• Excellent depictions of war, no doubt attributed to the author’s personal experience.

What I didn’t like:

• Extremely slow to build, especially with a focus on Willie.

Afterthoughts:

This was the only book by Herman Wouk I’ve been familiar with for a while (The Winds of War and War and Remembrance had been recommended to me). I’m curious to now explore his other works.

Where to buy the book: