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Murphy's War
Vintage movie tie-in paperback
- GenresFiction
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1969
About the author
Max Catto
75 books5 followersMaxwell Jeffrey Catto (29 July 1907 – 12 March 1992) was born Mark Finkell in Manchester, England and was an English playwright and novelist. Catto wrote adventure novels and dramas for more than four decades and also wrote under the pseudonym Simon Kent.
Ten of his works were adapted for film, the most notable of which was the novel The Killing Frost, which became Carol Reed's 1956 film Trapeze. Although he was a holder of a degree in electrical engineering from Manchester University, Catto began writing novels and plays in the late 1930s. After a stint in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Catto returned to writing fiction. Exotic settings and fast-paced action were the trademarks of his novels, defying categorization into any one genre, instead blending elements of many popular literary styles. Much of his work has been translated into other languages.
Ten of his works were adapted for film, the most notable of which was the novel The Killing Frost, which became Carol Reed's 1956 film Trapeze. Although he was a holder of a degree in electrical engineering from Manchester University, Catto began writing novels and plays in the late 1930s. After a stint in the Royal Air Force during World War II, Catto returned to writing fiction. Exotic settings and fast-paced action were the trademarks of his novels, defying categorization into any one genre, instead blending elements of many popular literary styles. Much of his work has been translated into other languages.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 25, 2023
Read this book because I remember liking the movie years ago. This was a great page turner. The battle between Murphy and Captain Laughs is taut as Murphy tries to avenge the sinking of his ship and the death of his Captain. There is reference to Ahab's quest against Moby Dick throughout the story and indeed it has many of the hallmarks of that and other legendary battles.
July 10, 2025
It gave origins to one of my favourite films of all time. Peter O'Toole's rendering of a lone survivor obsessively wreaking vengeance on a German submarine after an inexplicably cruel sinking and mass crew murder never ceases to inspire me in some weird way.
While I give the movie five stars the book falls short in an object demonstration of how films can sometimes improve on books. Max Catto was disrespected through much of his career as an action-oriented hack, but there is philosophy in the early pages of this tome, and some terrific prose. Where it falls apart is in the ending, which the film writers refashioned perfectly, but at which Catto failed.
Nevertheless, if you find this in a free box somewhere, or in a used bookstore for 75 cents, buy it.
While I give the movie five stars the book falls short in an object demonstration of how films can sometimes improve on books. Max Catto was disrespected through much of his career as an action-oriented hack, but there is philosophy in the early pages of this tome, and some terrific prose. Where it falls apart is in the ending, which the film writers refashioned perfectly, but at which Catto failed.
Nevertheless, if you find this in a free box somewhere, or in a used bookstore for 75 cents, buy it.
April 23, 2017
This one is a qualified page turner. Great adventure and we'll written.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews