Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of The Caine Mutiny

The Caine Mutiny
The Caine Mutiny
Author: Herman Wouk
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on


WWII Caine Mutiny is historical fiction by Herman Wouk. Main character Willie Keith is upset about being on the Caine because the Captain DeVries has little discipline aboard ship. When Captain DeVries is replaced by Captain Queeg Willie is delighted because he sees Captain Queeg as more strict with the men and the way the ship looks. It does not take long for the honeymoon period to be over and Queeg starts showing paranoid behavior that is upsetting the crew. Steve Maryk keep a journal of Queeg's unusual outbursts and demands. The key and the strawberry incidents come to mind as being particularly over the top. Mr. Wouk won the Pulitzer Prize for Caine Mutiny. The court martial at the end of the book is exceptional. Mr. Wouk spend much valuable time on character development. The only drawback is that the reader would wish that Mr. Wouk would not spend so much time on details as this makes the story move more slowly.