The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue - Hardcover

Tougias, Michael J.; Sherman, Casey

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1416567216 ISBN 13: 9781416567219

Publisher: Scribner, 2009

Synopsis

A dramatic rescue-at-sea account traces the 1952 coast guard attempt to save the crews of two oil tankers caught in a violent nor'easter off the coast of Cape Cod, a mission recounted by first-hand survivors that describes the heroic undertakings of the teams aboard small crafts that came to their aid.

About this title

Review:

""The Finest Hours" is a touching account, a sensitive rendering of what might be called four indescribably chaotic conditions...Tougias and Sherman never sensationalize, never go beyond the facts, and yet capture all the pain, physical and emotional, of the survivors and their families." -- "Providence Journal"

"Nearly 57 years later, it's a breathtaking story that still defies the imagination." -- "Cape Cod Chronicle "

"In February of 1952, eighty-four men were in danger of drowning off the coast of Cape Cod when a ferocious Nor'easter split their ships in two. "The Finest Hours" recounts the incredible heroism of the Coast Guard, who risked their lives to save others. A gripping read." -- James Bradley, author of "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Flyboys"

"Gripping...Tougias and Sherman ably narrate the desperate struggles of crew members on both the wrecks and the rescue boats...will make readers appreciate the bravery of the men who put their lives on the line...action-packed." -- "Publishers Weekly "

"Look no further for the real-life adventure of the year. "The Finest Hours" is a rousing page-turner, a fascinating history, and an inspiring ode to the courage and professionalism of men who face bitter winds and black mountainous seas...all to do a dangerous job. Put it on the shelf next to "The Perfect Storm". That's where it belongs!" -- William Martin, "New York Times" Best Selling author of "Cape Cod" and "The Lost Constitution "

"A gripping tale of Coast Guard heroism...an action-packed account of rescue at sea." --" Kirkus Reviews "

"It's good to know that real heroes exist...incredible." -- "Concord Monitor "

"Tougias and Sherman reach their peak of tension in the sink-or-swim moments when mariners abandoned ship and chanced their lives on their rescuers' skill and bravery...excellent." -- "Booklist"

"Tougias and Sherman have told a mesmerizing story about Coast Guardsmen under the stress of extreme conditions and the self-imposed pressure to perform. The events they describe so vividly occurred in 1952. As extraordinary as the collective performance by the boat crews, cutter crews and aircraft crews were that night, the real miracle is that such performances are timeless." -- James Loy, former Commandant of the United States Coast Guard

A blockbuster account of tragedy at sea.
--"The Providence Journal"

About the Author:

Michael J. Tougias is the author of a number of books, including Rescue of the Bounty Disaster and Survival in Superstorm Sandy; Overboard!; The Finest Hours (with Casey Sherman), soon to be a major motion picture from Disney; Fatal Forecast; and Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do. He is a sought-after lecturer who gives more than seventy presentations each year. He lives in Massachusetts.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scribner
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1416567216
• ISBN 13: 9781416567219
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 204