Hell On High Seas

by Rob Mundle

HELL ON HIGH SEAS chronicles some of the most remarkable stories of survival and daring the world's oceans have ever hosted. Amazing feats of courage: some verging on madness, others where death is eluded through sheer bravery, determination and innovation - or even devine intervention?

Genres: Nonfiction

372 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Rob Mundle is the author of the highly acclaimed international bestseller Fatal Storm. He has written six other books, including the bestselling Sir James Hardy: An Adventurous Life, Alan Bond’s authorised biography,Bond, and Life at the Extreme, the official record of the 2005/2006 Volvo Ocean Race round the world. He lives in Main Beach, Queensland.

Reviews

[Antje · Rating 3 out of 5]

Der deutsche Titel ist wie so häufig unpassend, da die vorliegenden zehn Berichte nicht jeder vom Kapitän erzählt wird und auch nicht konnte, da er in einem Fall gar nicht überlebte. Außerdem spielten sich nicht alle Szenarien auf hoher See ab. - Als ich das Buch in den Händen hielt und anlas, stellte ich mir in erster Linie Sturmfahrten, Kentern und Überlebenskampf vor. Doch was die Geschichte von dem Australier Damien Langley darin zu suchen hat, ist mir schleierhaft. Zum einen störte mich bereits seine primitive Wortwahl und fehlende Bescheidenheit, während sich zudem seine selbstverliebten Anekdoten vor allem um Krokodil- und Langustenfang drehten, als um stürmische Begebenheiten auf seinem Trawler. Ein weiterer Bericht handelte von der Lebensgeschichte des Piloten und späteren Seemannes Keith Thiele, die jedoch hauptsächlich von seinen erfolgreichen Luftfahrten berichtete. Desweiteren fand ich nicht in die Geschichte von Elinor und Ben Carlin hinein, die in den 40er Jahren mit einem zum Boot umfunktionierten Jeep den Atlantik überquerten. Mag ich altmodisch sein, aber ich möchte mir beim Lesen ein richtiges Boot oder Schiff vorstellen wollen und kein Auto mit eingebautem Kiel.

Rob Mundle hätte besser daran getan, diese drei Geschichten herauszulassen, um stattdessen Sturmfahrten von Tankern oder weitere Episoden über das fatale Sydney-Hobart-Rennen 1998 aufzuarbeiten. Denn diese fand ich bemerkenswert und fesselnd.

[Loz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book club. Again not my preference. Amazing tales of heroism and survival! Absolutely extraordinary what some people have to live through.

[Wil Van Der Geest]

This book is cool, it has awesome stories, Rob writ it so you can imagine it perfectly.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

was fun. love survival stories. but some chapters were too long for how interesting they were. like jeep chapter was so boring and I didn't get into it. Also some of the 'this random guy did cool stuff' that they then just narrated was boring too. plane guy low-key spent way more time in the air flying and his chapter was all about flying so not really what I expected in an ocean survival book.

[Selina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Remarkable stories of people’s bravery, endurance and strength to overcome situations which one would think impossible to survive.

[Xanthi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't find myself enjoying (if that if the correct word to use in this instance - seems a bit odd to, considering the general topic) this book as much as I thought I would. I found the Sydney to Hobart race stories interesting. And although it was a unique story, I felt the one about the amphibian jeep just went on for far too long, for a book that was bout a collection of stories. I can understand how that adventure had a whole book written about it.
The story that both interested and infuriated me the most, all at the same time, was the one about the Damian 'Dundee', guy. It was written in his voice, which was just plain annoying as he is not a good story teller by the looks of it, despite the pretty colourful experiences he has had in his life. He admits that he is dyslexic and has had very little formal education. This really shows in this chapter about and by him. Surely the author of this book could have stepped in and told some of the man's exploits, instead? Still, having said this, this guy's story of being stung by the irukandji jellyfish and the cone fish was pretty damn interesting and harrowing. Can't believe he got barbed by the deadly cone fish and just carried on with what he was doing. One thing though - much of this man's life is about killing - fish, crays, pigs, crocs, etc. Perhaps one day he can stop subtracting from life and respect animal life instead.

[Graeme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some excellent accounts of survival for long periods at sea. The Aussie that sailed round the world in an amphibious jeep was probably the most extreme!

[Michael Boult · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, like how it was in short stories, although some were not so good, like 'DAMO' DUNDEE.
Still very good.

[Lindsay Eaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hell on High Seas. Eclectic collection of disaster at sea stories - brilliantly written - gripping and entertaining. I really enjoyed it. Mr Mundle is a great story-teller.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't ever get into this book. I probably didn't give it a fair chance but there it is.