In Man Overboard, Tim Binding tells the story of English war hero Commander Crabb, who disappeared in 1956 amid rumours of his capture by the USSR. Imaginative and funny, this novel is an exploration of Englishness.
Industrious, resilient, fond of his drink, socially awkward and physically fearless, Commander Lionel 'Buster' Crabb was an Englishman who put defence of King and country above all else. In Gibraltar, and later Palestine and Italy, his feats of underwater daring made him the navy's greatest frogman and a legend of the Second World War.
But Crabb's private life was both a struggle to achieve human intimacy and a struggle to find his place in post-war Britain. How could someone whose identity was forged in war, who was the friend of government moles and double agents, reconcile himself to the rewards of an ordinary life? When in April 1956, during a visit to Britain by First Secretary Khrushchev, Commander Crabb disappeared, was it by accident or by design?
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Tim Binding was born in Germany in 1947. He is the author of In the Kingdom of Air, A Perfect Execution, Island Madness, On Ilkley Moor and Anthem. He lives in Kent with his wife and daughter.
'Such an arresting subject for a novel that one wonders why no one ever thought of it before ... Binding fashions a convincing picture of a restless postwar world ... a consistently entertaining and resourceful novel' D. J. Taylor, Guardian 'His triumph is to have created a marvellous, anachronistic hero in a novel which not only tries to explain a famous mystery, but takes a hard look at what Britain lost when the war was won' Daily Mail 'The dialogue is always a comic delight ... Man Overboard is one half James Bond story (except more soulful), and one half Ealing Comedy. As such, it is pretty irresistible' Daily Express 'Tim Binding has written a historical novel which with a very light touch dramatizes the faint but inescapable foreignness of the past without turning it into a costume drama; its poignancy is the product of conviction. Binding wields a range of linguistic fire-power often missing from contemporary fiction, as much at ease with the visionary set piece as with bar-room banter ... [Man Overboard] is a remarkable feat of compression, representing a significant artistic advance' Sean O'Brien, TLS
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Destination, rates & speedsSeller: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. A tan to the pages. Seller Inventory # wbb0023981639
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Seller: AwesomeBooks, Wallingford, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Man Overboard 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 # 7719-9780330487474
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Seller: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Tim Binding is perhaps our finest chronicler of British 20th century history through the medium of fiction. With Man Overboard he has written the extraordinary and unlikely story of a real-life English war hero. Lionel 'Buster' Crabb became renowned during the Second World War for his amazing feats of underwater daring. After the war he was celebrated for embodying a particular English ideal a love for King and Country that seemed to be dying out. Then, in 1956, during a visit to Britain by Nikita Khrushchev, who had arrived by ship, Commander Crabb disappeared. Some thought he had perished while attempting to inspect the Soviet vessel; others that he had been kidnapped and forced to work for the USSR. The truth remains unknown to this day, and out of this mystery Tim Binding has spun a wondrous piece of fiction a deeply imaginative, gently funny and profoundly stirring exploration of the idea of Englishness. It is the story of a man who has made deep personal sacrifices for the sake of higher ideals and who must, towards the end of his days, measure their meaning and their worth. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004406818
Quantity: 7 available
Seller: Bahamut Media, Reading, United Kingdom
Hardcover. 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 # 6545-9780330487474
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Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Condition: Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 50419434-20
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Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United Kingdom
Condition: Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # 40992992-75
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Seller: Books On The Green, Lydd, KENT, United Kingdom
1st edition. Hardback in dustwrapper. Contents: pages very good and clean. No markings and no inscriptions. Boards in very good shape. Dustwrapper: very good, clean and bright. No price-clipping. A very good, tight copy. Seller Inventory # 28715
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Seller: Brit Books, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Used; Very Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # 4108477
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Seller: MW Books, New York, NY, U.S.A.
1st edition. Proof copy. Very good paperback copy; edges slightly dust-dulled and nicked. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. Physical description: 243 p.; 20 cm. Subjects: Crabb, Lionel 1909-1956? ; Fiction. Great Britain. Royal Navy; Fiction. Disappeared persons Soviet Union; Fiction. Divers; Fiction.Genre: Biographical fiction.Fiction. Historical fiction. 1 Kg. Seller Inventory # 311385
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Seller: BookAddiction (IOBA, IBooknet), Canterbury, United Kingdom
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. First edition, first printing. 244pp. Dark blue cloth-covered boards, gilt-stamped lettering on the spine. Grey endpapers. Cloth very slightly pushed at spine tips. Hint of browning to text block edges. Internally neat, clean, bright and tight. Dust wrapper a little bumped on extreme edges. Seller Inventory # 036080
Quantity: 1 available