The Caine MutinyThe Caine Mutiny
Score Classic
What it's about
Willie Keith is a privileged, aimless young man from Princeton who joins the Navy in World War II and is assigned to the USS Caine, a battered old minesweeper in the Pacific. When Lieutenant Commander Queeg takes command, his rigid rules and growing paranoia unsettle the crew, until a typhoon forces the officers to make a decision that will lead to a court-martial.
Why it's worth reading
It's a terrific, absorbing novel about duty, authority and growing up, with one of the most famous courtroom scenes in American fiction. It won the Pulitzer Prize and spent 48 weeks at #1 on the bestseller list.
You'll love it if you liked
Lonesome Dove
The Godfather
From Here to EternityGood to know
The first section, before Willie reaches the Caine, is slow. The navy life details are vivid, and you don't need to know anything about ships.
By the numbers
- Readers91 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller60 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Herman Wouk
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of Repose
A Tree Grows in BrooklynExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Caine Mutiny worth reading?
Yes. It's a terrific, absorbing novel about duty, authority and growing up, with one of the most famous courtroom scenes in American fiction. It ranks #104 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 86.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Caine Mutiny about?
Willie Keith is a privileged, aimless young man from Princeton who joins the Navy in World War II and is assigned to the USS Caine, a battered old minesweeper in the Pacific. When Lieutenant Commander Queeg takes command, his rigid rules and growing paranoia unsettle the crew, until a typhoon forces the officers to make a decision that will lead to a court-martial.
How long does it take to read The Caine Mutiny?
About 17 hours (673 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Caine Mutiny won?
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction winner (1952).
What should I read after The Caine Mutiny?
If you liked it, try Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, The Godfather by Mario Puzo or From Here to Eternity by James Jones.