HMS Ulysses cover art

HMS Ulysses

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

HMS Ulysses

By: Alistair MacLean
Narrated by: Jonathan Oliver
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

The novel that launched the astonishing career of one of the 20th century’s greatest writers of action and suspense – an acclaimed classic of heroism and the sea in World War II.

Constant patrols have pushed the crew of the HMS Ulysses beyond the limits of endurance. And now they must be put to sea again, to escort a vital supply convoy heading for Murmansk.

As they head deep into the frozen waters they are faced not only with the fierce arctic weather, but a swarm of airborne attacks, German ships, then the feared U-boats, all hellbent on destroying the convoy.

With each day threatening another sudden attack, and increasing hardships aboard the frozen ship, Ulysses suffers greater damage trying to protect the other vessels. And soon the journey becomes a tense and deadly game of cat and mouse between the crippled cruiser and her silent pursuers.

©1955 HarperCollins Publishers (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
Classics Epic Epic Fantasy Fiction Historical Fiction Sea Adventures Suspense Thriller & Suspense War & Military Fantasy Adventure Exciting Heartfelt Scary Tear-jerking War Military
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

The Guns of Navarone cover art
Fear Is the Key cover art
Where Eagles Dare cover art
Ice Station Zebra cover art
The Golden Rendezvous cover art
Night Without End cover art
When Eight Bells Toll cover art
Force Ten from Navarone cover art
The Dark Crusader cover art
Puppet on a Chain cover art
The Golden Gate cover art
Circus cover art
Killing Ground cover art
Rendezvous - South Atlantic cover art
The Iron Pirate cover art
A Dawn Like Thunder cover art

Critic reviews

‘A brilliant, overwhelming piece of descriptive writing.’
Observer

‘A story of exceptional courage which grips the imagination.’
Daily Telegraph

‘It deserves an honourable place among 20th-century war books.’
Daily Mail

‘HMS Ulysses is in the same class as The Cruel Sea.’
Evening Standard

What listeners say about HMS Ulysses

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    288
  • 4 Stars
    68
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    12
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    285
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    271
  • 4 Stars
    52
  • 3 Stars
    26
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    7

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartbreaking

One of the best stories I've ever hear brought me to tears at points and I felt ashamed
Gut wrenching all the young men in this kind of conflict show what real courage is
Thanks to MacLean what a writer
HEROs every last one
Q

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

One of the best books written on the subject

One of the most amazing and important books giving a very accurate and chilling account of life on one of the Russian convoys of world war . The men I have spoken to from those times all confirm this several who took part in those convoys.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The best book I have ever listened to

This fantastic book was Maclean's first. The plot is riveting and highly emotional. Anyone with an interest in the sea or Maritime convoys must read it.
The scope of the narrator's characterizations seems boundless. A brilliant performance.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

HMS Ulysses

Excellent reproduction of the novel. Jonathan Oliver's performance was first-rate, bringing all the characters to life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best naval book I have read

He dragged it out in a couple of story lines but the descriptive narrative and way he got into the men's minds and fellowship were. Brilliant and finally he doesn't see the need to introduce a token mindless liason with the opposite sex

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Alistair MacLean’s devastating Arctic convoy story

Drawn from his own Arctic convoy experience, MacLean fairly rams the horror of those deadly Arctic voyages home.
Jonathan Oliver has a great voice but tended to scupper it all by over acting, which is a pity.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brought to life

Having read the book many years ago, this audio version was excellent in bring the story to life - captivating till the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic read.

I read this book over 50 years ago (when I could still see to read) I had forgotten what a great & exciting story it is! Starts off at a sprint & keeps going to the climatic finish. No time to get your breath. Alistair Maclean was a great loss to readers of all ages. If you like naval fiction, this is not one to miss!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

I have read all of Stephen king’s books and none of them are as horrific as this. Thank god I’ll never go to war.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant story

Best war story ever. Funny, sad and unforgettable. A fine and fitting tribute to the courage of the men of the Atlantic convoys.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!