What do you think?
Rate this book
Gold from Crete
Presents ten tales of adventure, suspense, espionage and danger set in the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean during World War II
263 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1970
19 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Forester
236 books977 followersCecil Scott Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith, an English novelist who rose to fame with tales of adventure and military crusades. His most notable works were the 11-book Horatio Hornblower series, about naval warfare during the Napoleonic era, and The African Queen (1935; filmed in 1951 by John Huston). His novels A Ship of the Line and Flying Colours were jointly awarded the 1938 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 24, 2020
3.2⭐
Collection of WW2 stories, mostly about British naval action in the Mediterranean. Decent stories but generally not up to the standard of Forester's other WW2 anthologies, "The Man in The Yellow Raft" and "The Nightmare." Some of the stories in "Gold From Crete" were written during the war, when Forester worked for the British Information Ministry, tasked with generating American sympathy for the UK war effort. So there's a distinct whiff of pro allied propaganda in the writing but it doesn't get in the way of the story telling, to any great degree. I read it as part of the Delphi digital edition "Collected Works of C.S. Forester", which actually omits the final story in the anthology, "If Hitler had Invaded England" but which I had read elsewhere, fortunately. It's a self explanatory, 'alternate history' tale, written beore the term was in use. Not a bad little yarn and of course (Spoiler Alert) the good guys win. Forester was such a good writer, imho, that even his lesser works, like these stories, are well worth reading.
Collection of WW2 stories, mostly about British naval action in the Mediterranean. Decent stories but generally not up to the standard of Forester's other WW2 anthologies, "The Man in The Yellow Raft" and "The Nightmare." Some of the stories in "Gold From Crete" were written during the war, when Forester worked for the British Information Ministry, tasked with generating American sympathy for the UK war effort. So there's a distinct whiff of pro allied propaganda in the writing but it doesn't get in the way of the story telling, to any great degree. I read it as part of the Delphi digital edition "Collected Works of C.S. Forester", which actually omits the final story in the anthology, "If Hitler had Invaded England" but which I had read elsewhere, fortunately. It's a self explanatory, 'alternate history' tale, written beore the term was in use. Not a bad little yarn and of course (Spoiler Alert) the good guys win. Forester was such a good writer, imho, that even his lesser works, like these stories, are well worth reading.
February 22, 2022
I bought this book, a collection of short stories, primarily for the final one, which is titled If Hitler Had Invaded England.
Most of the nine stories, all very short, are naval themed, as one might expect from the author of the Napoleonic Hornblower novels. The first five follow the fate of HMS Apache, commanded by Capt. Crowe. There's one aerial combat story and one tank combat narrative, but it was the Operation Sea-lion story I was particularly interested in.
Written during the early years of the war, Forester was working in the US as a propaganda writer when he penned most of these stories, to inspire courage in British troops and citizens, at home and at war, and to garner support from America. Consequently they have a rather bombastic 'boy's own' adventure style patriotism about them. This is, perhaps, a little less true of the Operation Sea-lion piece, which was, I think, written later (poss’ after the war?).
Fans of the Hornblower books have said they are much better written than these propaganda pieces. I hope they are! These came as over as similar to but less polished than Ian Fleming, i.e. exciting but rather naff! Peopled with stock stereotypes, rather like Commando comics for adults. Still, they make for fun quick Sunday afternoon style easy reading, and the 'what if', re Operation Sea-lion, is worth checking out, if such ‘alternative history’ type scenarios interest you.
Most of the nine stories, all very short, are naval themed, as one might expect from the author of the Napoleonic Hornblower novels. The first five follow the fate of HMS Apache, commanded by Capt. Crowe. There's one aerial combat story and one tank combat narrative, but it was the Operation Sea-lion story I was particularly interested in.
Written during the early years of the war, Forester was working in the US as a propaganda writer when he penned most of these stories, to inspire courage in British troops and citizens, at home and at war, and to garner support from America. Consequently they have a rather bombastic 'boy's own' adventure style patriotism about them. This is, perhaps, a little less true of the Operation Sea-lion piece, which was, I think, written later (poss’ after the war?).
Fans of the Hornblower books have said they are much better written than these propaganda pieces. I hope they are! These came as over as similar to but less polished than Ian Fleming, i.e. exciting but rather naff! Peopled with stock stereotypes, rather like Commando comics for adults. Still, they make for fun quick Sunday afternoon style easy reading, and the 'what if', re Operation Sea-lion, is worth checking out, if such ‘alternative history’ type scenarios interest you.
October 4, 2017
A lovely book showing British pluck in the face of irresistible odds in the early days of World War 2.
The last story is an interesting "what if" Hitler had invaded England immediately after Dunkirk. It always puzzled me why he didn't. A still untrusted Churchill had been PM for just 4 weeks, France had almost fallen, the British army was demoralised & had left behind its weapons in Dunkirk, Beaverbrook's amazing output as Minister of Aircraft Production that created so many Spitfires & Hurricanes had not yet kicked in, the Royal Navy was demoralised after the Norway fiasco, the air defence network of radar/ Observer Corps/ command & control had not yet started. Britain was on its knees. Hitler needed to send a few divisions & a couple of hundred tanks as a spearhead to land on a beach & drive to nearby London. He would have been told by his staff that this needed time, but he rarely listened to them & had proven them wrong when his audacious attack on western Europe succeeded beyond imagination.
In the cases, perhaps why they would have been right, is told to us here. The fictional invasion occurs on June 30, but after (amazingly) having reached the beaches & gaining some initial footholds, the Germans are overwhelmed in a few days. Thank god for that!
The last story is an interesting "what if" Hitler had invaded England immediately after Dunkirk. It always puzzled me why he didn't. A still untrusted Churchill had been PM for just 4 weeks, France had almost fallen, the British army was demoralised & had left behind its weapons in Dunkirk, Beaverbrook's amazing output as Minister of Aircraft Production that created so many Spitfires & Hurricanes had not yet kicked in, the Royal Navy was demoralised after the Norway fiasco, the air defence network of radar/ Observer Corps/ command & control had not yet started. Britain was on its knees. Hitler needed to send a few divisions & a couple of hundred tanks as a spearhead to land on a beach & drive to nearby London. He would have been told by his staff that this needed time, but he rarely listened to them & had proven them wrong when his audacious attack on western Europe succeeded beyond imagination.
In the cases, perhaps why they would have been right, is told to us here. The fictional invasion occurs on June 30, but after (amazingly) having reached the beaches & gaining some initial footholds, the Germans are overwhelmed in a few days. Thank god for that!
December 5, 2021
If you've watched Greyhound, the Tom Hanks movie on Apple TV, you'll find a certain similarity between it and "Gold from Crete." It is a series of 10 short stories about the men in WWII on the British side. The title comes from the first story when a British destroyer must risk destruction from German aircraft and artillery as they try and pick up the failing Greek government The POV character is the captain in charge of the flotilla who juggles the question of risk vs. benefit in each action.
It's very much a creature of Allied WWII sentiments, which I liked.
I really enjoyed reading it.
It's very much a creature of Allied WWII sentiments, which I liked.
I really enjoyed reading it.
October 4, 2020
World War II stories written during the war to build up morale. The first half of the tales involve a Fleet Captain aboard the HMS Apache, a destroyer operating in the Mediterranean. Good selection with different plots. Actions against submarines, shore raids, and acting upon intelligence.
The rest of the book collects assorted tales. There is a tank battle in Africa, some counter-espionage in New York, and the Battle of Britain. The last story is an alternate history tale of Operation Sea Lion.
A good collection of WWII stories from the British point of view. All good tales.
The rest of the book collects assorted tales. There is a tank battle in Africa, some counter-espionage in New York, and the Battle of Britain. The last story is an alternate history tale of Operation Sea Lion.
A good collection of WWII stories from the British point of view. All good tales.
July 22, 2023
An enjoyable series of short stories set in WW2, stories of the British and US Navy. The first few follow one series of a ship trying to gather gold and take it to safety, and the rest are unrelated. The book ends with an alternate history story where Hitler invades England after Dunkirk and how that plays out, which I found an interesting examination of the probabilities and challenges faced by both armies.
Overall its not Forester's best work, but its still pretty entertaining stuff, and worth the read.
Overall its not Forester's best work, but its still pretty entertaining stuff, and worth the read.
February 28, 2018
A good collection of war stories. They jewel of this collection, I think, is "If Hitler Had Invaded England". It is one of the earliest, if not the first, of the "what if Hitler invaded England" stories.
August 17, 2020
First few stories are amazing. Final few go a a little to far for me
December 13, 2020
Forester Is A Great Writer
I loved these stories. Great history told thru wonderful fiction. The story about the Dutchman ...I won't give it away. Superb.
I loved these stories. Great history told thru wonderful fiction. The story about the Dutchman ...I won't give it away. Superb.
January 19, 2024
These are a great collection of short stories and the very last one is a very sobering read.
June 9, 2025
This is a very enjoyable collection of Second World War short stories. The first five stories are about a destroyer, HMS Apache, and the others follow two American brothers in the RAF, a British tank action in North Africa, and a Dutch tugboat Captain. The North Africa story, An Egg for the Major, was my favourite of the bunch as it truly did justice to the sort of cool heroism that allows a leader to sacrifice his unit in a blocking action. The relationship between the Major and his enlisted crewmen is also nicely drawn, with a pleasing if somewhat corny conclusion. A theme that emerges in this story, as well as in most of the others, is the importance of everyone playing their part and of how the Allied war effort is composed of small individual decisions and actions.
The last, and longest, story is an alternative history that examines what would have happened if Hitler had attempted to invade England in 1940. Forester's take on this possibility seems about right to me: The Royal Navy and RAF comprehensively destroy the invasion force and resupply routes, and those units that do manage to get ashore get nowhere before being destroyed.
Anyone who has read and enjoyed The Good Shepherd, or any of Forester’s other Second World War fiction, will appreciate this.
The last, and longest, story is an alternative history that examines what would have happened if Hitler had attempted to invade England in 1940. Forester's take on this possibility seems about right to me: The Royal Navy and RAF comprehensively destroy the invasion force and resupply routes, and those units that do manage to get ashore get nowhere before being destroyed.
Anyone who has read and enjoyed The Good Shepherd, or any of Forester’s other Second World War fiction, will appreciate this.
February 16, 2016
Short stories set in WWII
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews