The Girl in the White Ship: A Story of the Vietnamese Boat People

by Peter Townsend

The Girl in the White Ship. A Story of the Vietnamese Boat People

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Group Captain Peter Wooldridge Townsend, CVO, DSO, DFC and Bar, RAF was Equerry to King George VI 1944–1952 and held the same position for Queen Elizabeth II 1952–1953. Townsend is best known for his ill-fated romance with Princess Margaret. Despite his distinguished career, as a divorced man there was no chance of marriage with the princess and their relationship caused enormous controversy in the mid 1950s.

Peter Townsend spent much of his later years writing non-fiction books. His books include "Earth My Friend" (about driving/boating around the world alone in the mid 1950s), "Duel of Eagles," (about the Battle of Britain), "The Odds Against Us" (also known as "Duel in the Dark") (about fighting Luftwaffe night bombers in 1940-1941), "The Last Emperor" (A biography of King George VI), The Girl in the White Ship (about a young refugee from Vietnam in the late 1970s who was the sole survivor of her ship of refugees), The Postman of Nagasaki (about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki), and Time and Chance, (an autobiography). He also wrote many short articles and contributed to other books. [wikipedia]

Reviews

[Sofia H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can appreciate that this is a very, very important story that people deserve to hear about. The book also really well elaborates on the experience of the Boat People of Vietnam and life under communism— as well as the nuances and discrimination against ethnic Chinese. I think the author does a really good job in this regard, however, I’m not entirely sure this completely redeems the, at times, sub par writing. I mean it’s not awful but,, not necessarily inspired.
5 stars for the story itself, and Peter Townshend taking the time to document the experience of the Chinese-Vietnamese 13 year old sole survivor of a ship wreck, 3(ish) stars for the writing itself.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, factual and moving story of a tenacious 13-year-old girl, one of the "boat people" escaping Communist Viet Nam in 1978, who survives an unimaginable ordeal in the South China Sea.

[Joy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just stunning! The reader feels as if they are right in there with the characters. This true story is full of suspense and unbelievable events - and has a good ending.