Three Little Ships

by Lilian Harry

During just nine days in the early summer of 1940, nearly 800 "little ships," from lifeboats and passenger steamers to small private yachts and dinghies, set off across the English Channel to rescue almost half a million men trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. As each boat ferries exhausted men from the beaches to the waiting ships, under incessant fire from enemy aircraft and in a sea awash with debris and bodies, the men are unknowingly united by a powerful driving force—the urgent need to find one man, brother or son, who matters more to them than anyone else. Each of these missing men has a family, a wife or a sweetheart at home who is anxiously waiting for news—and one sweetheart in particular is determined to play her own part in the rescue.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

aka Donna Baker, Nicola West

Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.

As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.

She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book a few times over the years and it is still one of my favourites.
If you should stumble across a copy of this book it's really worth a read. Recommended.

[Karen Rufus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fabulous Lilian Harry novel. I love the way she writes, it's so descriptive and flowing, you find yourself totally immersed in the story and it's hard to tear yourself away from it.
After reading all but 2 of her works I think I know more about World War II and the 1950's than I ever thought possible! Totally gripping with, mostly, likeable characters woven into brilliantly written stories. Highly recommend.

[Zoe Obstkuchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for my village reading group. I wasn’t keen on the thought of it as it didn’t look like my kind of book (war, sentimental embracing couple on the front etc) but actually I found it a thrilling fictionalised account of the evacuation of Dunkirk told from the view of the families of the crews and owners of three of the little ships requisitioned to rescue the troops from France.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

WW2 - May 1940 - The British Army is stuck on the beaches of Dunkirk. A call goes out in England for anyone with a ship, yacht, dinghey etc to help rescue these men and bring them home. The story centres around 3 families that did just this.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. About how boats of all sizes went across the channel to help bring the soldiers trapped on the beaches at Dunkirk.

[Harry Tomos · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the stories interwoven and seeing both sides, a slight twist which unexpected was somehow poetic

[Annette Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I'd started, I couldn't put this book down until I'd read to the end and found out if everyone had returned safely.

Set during the evacuation of troops from Dunkirk, it follows 3 families and their efforts to take a small boat across to France, hoping to rescue as many men as possible while desperately wishing each to find a member of their family serving in the BEF.

I liked the way the story switched to the men they are hoping to reach. It reminded me of the old film called 'Dunkirk' - a personal favourite of mine.

[Emma Murphy-keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ibought this book just under a year ago, and it has taken me that long to finish it as I have been dipping in and out. I love WArtime fiction books, but the problem I found with this one is that it was a bit confusing.....flipping from different families, and also it started off extremely slow.
HOWEVER keep reading because the story is good, and gives a good insight based on fictional characters to what happened at Dunkirk in the 2nd World War.

[Meirav Berale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story, showing us what happened at Dunkirk through the personal stories of individuals who were there, both on the side of the soldiers and of those who went there to evacuate them - with all the pain and suffering involved.

I just felt it wasn't all that well written. Not awful but not her best - I've read other Lilian Harry novels and don't remember so much clunkiness. Sad, because it is a good story.

[Snoozie Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that made me proud to be British. And that I have grown up in (and still live in the area of) Ramsgate also made me proud. I could only give it 5 stars really! But it was well written (& narrated) and I could 'see' the happenings as I heard them.

[Psammead · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌟👍🌟One of the best books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. Really made me understand how and what folk went thru during the Dunkirk evacuation. It's good to keep pen and pepper handy to keep track of who is who and in which boats etc. But well worth reading.

[Spinster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the characters were sanctimonious prigs I oouldn't stand. The only character I liked was killed off in end.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favourite books about the Second World War and how the normal, everyday people had to pull together to save the English army.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! I have never read much at all about the rescue operation that occurred at Dunkirk. So this was a real treat!

[Kerry Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!!! an emotional read. could not put book down.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars