The Shetland Bus: A WWII Epic Of Courage, Endurance, and Survival Paperback – Illustrated, February 1, 2018

The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and is an elegant edition. What a nice surprise!

The story itself was really good! The writing made it drag on at times but I was still able to follow along! The book came bent, with a rather beaten cover. Still readable.

Since I am going to the Shetland Islands this summer, this looked like the perfect book to take with me. I haven't read it yet but it is in great condition and I will read it closer to my departure date.

I heard about this book on a recent trip to the Shetland islands. Wow. An amazing true story. Well written

Well written chronicle of the war effort against occupying Germany between Norway's underground and Great Britain's military. A handful of Norwegian fishing vessels armed and sailing the winter night arctic seas between a British Naval base in the Shetland Isles off Scotland and the German patrolled coast of Norway. Materials, refugees and trained underground fighters wer transported back and forth at great risk during the early 1940's. This was a little-known effort between these two countries that greatly stressed the people involved. These dangerous and difficult adventures did not mean a great deal in the big scheme of the war until the Norwegian underground played a key part in delaying Germanys efforts to produce atomic weapons. This German set-back helped end the war in Europe and allowed America to be the first nuclear power and to turn their attention to the war in the Pacific.

First off, the writer really is a fine stylist. Second, the history is little known, but quite fascinating. My dad was Norwegian-Canadian and served in the Canadian Army (engineer), so I found it quite personally interesting. After a few beers, he used to hint that he had some involvement in these intrigues - possible as he knew the language, had engineer training, and his army records do seem to have some gaps. So, this book didn't settle the matter as far as that goes, but it did enlighten me about one of the little known aspects of the war.

Having some Norwegian blood in my veins, I've always been frustrated by how little coverage is available of World War II in Norway. I first was introduced to David Howarth's writings through his "We Die Alone," and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I was hoping to get the same thrills from "The Shetland Bus," but came away mildly disappointed.It's not a bad book. I think the problem is the author is telling parts of the story from his own perspective and parts from others, and he isn't enough of a journalist or writer to give full voice to the tales of the others. Having helped coordinate the anti-Nazi boat traffic between Shetland and Norway, he does a great job of explaining the organizing and supplying of a diverse group of men who really didn't want to be organized or directed, but needed the supplies. However, in his telling of their stories as they make the dangerous trips back and forth to Norway, the stories seem to lose their zip and become an exercise in accounting of materials sent and encounters with the Germans evaded. And, of course, with the most heartbreaking ones -- those where the ships were lost -- he can only speculate as to what went wrong and how they went down.I'm grateful to Mr. Howarth that he took the time to write this book, but I can't help thinking a co-author or better editor might have helped make it more compelling. It's a story that's worth reading, but I wish there truly was more life in it.

Incredible story of the Shetland Island part in the resistance against the German occupation of Norway during WWII. I had previously read Howath's book "We Die Alone" Now I understand how he was able to get interviews with those who participated in that story.I am not sure how much difference the missions made as the Germans occupied Norway until the end of WWII. You can't discount the bravery of the men who ran the boats under extremely difficult conditions and they definitely made a difference in the spirit of the Norwegians during this difficult time. I have been reading Ann Cleeve's Shetland mystery series and she mentioned the "Shetland Bus" as some of the background she used in one of the mysteries.

Interesting WW2 account of moving people between Norway and the Shetland Islands to aid the Resistance against the nazis.

Brilliant!

The Shetland Bus shows the grit and determination and the human spiritBrave men doing extraordinary deeds to fight evil and save their fellow human beings

The privations these brave people endured to fight the Nazi regime is a salutary lesson to succeeding generations. I visited the museum in Shetland last year in Scalloway and also travelled to NordKapp in the summer last year ,returning via the Lofoten Islands. The distances travelled by the men in such difficult circumstances was very humbling. A must read.

I read this in one sitting. Well written and paced to hold your interest while giving just enough detail to convey a clear understanding of this amazing true story of great bravery.