Synopsis
A classic World War 2 adventure set in south-east Asia.
February, 1942: Singapore lies burning and shattered, defenceless before the conquering hordes of the Japanese Army, as the last boat slips out of the harbour into the South China Sea. On board are a desperate group of people, each with a secret to guard, each willing to kill to keep that secret safe.
Who or what is the dissolute Englishman, Farnholme? The elegant Dutch planter, Van Effen? The strangely beautiful Eurasian girl, Gudrun? The slave trader, Siran? The smiling and silent Nicholson who is never without his gun? Only one thing is certain: the rotting tramp steamer is a floating death trap, carrying a cargo of human TNT.
Dawn sees them far out to sea but with the first murderous dive bombers already aimed at their ship. Thus begins an ordeal few are to survive, a nightmare succession of disasters wrought by the hell-bent Japanese, the unrelenting tropical sun and by the survivors themselves, whose hatred and bitterness divides them one against the other.
Written after the acclaimed and phenomenally successful HMS Ulysses and The Guns of Navarone, this was MacLean’s third book, and it contains all the hallmarks of those other two classics. Rich with stunning visual imagery, muscular narrative power, brutality, courage and breathtaking excitement, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of South by Java Head offers readers a long-denied chance to enjoy one of the greatest war novels ever written.
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Review
'Excitements come and go at breathless speed' The Times
'Highly dramatic and effective' Observer
About the Author
Alistair MacLean, the son of a minister, was brought up in the Scottish Highlands. In 1941 he joined the Royal Navy. After the war he read English at Glasgow University and became a teacher. Two and a half years spent aboard a wartime cruiser gave him the background for HMS Ulysses, his remarkably successful first novel, published in 1955. He is now recognized as one of the outstanding popular writers of the 20th century, the author of 29 worldwide bestsellers, many of which have been filmed.
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South by Java Head
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.34. Seller Inventory # G0006133959I3N00
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South by Java Head
Seller: ThriftBooks-Dallas, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
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Paperback. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0006133959I3N00
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South by Java Head
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR010795292
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South by Java Head
Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
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Paperback. Condition: Fair. A readable copy of the book which may include some defects such as highlighting and notes. Cover and pages may be creased and show discolouration. Seller Inventory # GOR012680903
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South by Java Head
Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780006133957
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South by Java Head
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780006133957
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South By Java Head
Seller: Darkwood Online T/A BooksinBulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good+. Reprint; Twenty-Ninth Printing. Light cover wear, creased at corners, paper toned, large marker pen initials to inside front cover. ; Twenty-ninth printing of Fontana mass market edition, August 1975. Good reading copy, no names inside. Wrap around cover artwork uncredited. ; 256 pages; The lifeboat drifted, and everyone on board knew that if it didn't rain in the next 24 hours it wouldn't matter if it rained after that! Mass Market PB. Seller Inventory # 5879
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South By Java Head
Published by
Fontana/Collins, 1976
ISBN 10: 0006133959
ISBN 13: 9780006133957
Used
Mass Market Paperback
Seller: J J Basset Books, bassettbooks, bookfarm.co.uk, Peter Tavy, United Kingdom
Seller rating 2 out of 5 stars
Mass Market Paperback. Condition: VERY GOOD ( AVERAGE). No Jacket. Reprint. FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL FOR PHOTOGRAPHS AND FURTHER DETAILS. FROM A DEALER WHO TELLS YOU WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEIR TELEPHONE AND ADDRESS CONTACT DETAILS ARE! Size: Mass Market Paperback. Not Signed or Inscribed. Seller Inventory # 999000488
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South by Java Head
Seller: Book Express (NZ), Shannon, New Zealand
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Paperback. Condition: Good. 254 pages. cover worn, text tanned, Seller Inventory # 5192ap
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SOUTH BY JAVA HEAD
Published by
Collins - Fontana Books, 1973
ISBN 10: 0006133959
ISBN 13: 9780006133957
Used
Couverture souple
Seller: Le-Livre, SABLONS, France
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Couverture souple. Condition: bon. RO60110753: 1973. In-12. Broché. Bon état, Couv. convenable, Dos satisfaisant, Intérieur acceptable. 253 pages. Annotation au dos du 2e plat. . . . Classification Dewey : 420-Langue anglaise. Anglo-saxon. Seller Inventory # RO60110753