The plot revolves around a newcomer to the boat, machinists mate. As a spirit of nationalism inspired by chiang kaisheks leadership begins to sweep through china, the river gunship san pablo is ordered to. The electronic ebook version of this epic novel is available for sale and download from rosettabooks. It is a riviting tale about the chinese revolution, imperialism, missionaries, duty, honor and sacrifice. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna overdrive rakuten. Richard mckenna was born and raised in the small desert town of mountain home, idaho. The sand pebbles is based on a best selling novel by richard mackenna, who actually served in the china river patrol albeit in 1936, ten years after the events depicted in his story. Recommended reading as part of the chief of naval operations pro. I was often more purely happy at such times than i think i have ever been since. Pdf retire inspired book chapter 2 pdf download read. Jun 01, 2000 the sand pebbles is an historical fiction which portrays events and characters in chinas 1926 uprising. It is likely that audiences seeing the film robert wise has made from richard mckennas popular novel, the sand pebbles, will not see it simply as a tale of the involvement of a united states.
The sand pebbles by richard mckenna gives a detailed look at the life of a navy sailor in china during the rise of chinese nationalism and independence prior to world war ii. The late richard mckenna the sand pebbles, 1963 found that only in writing did he remain free to range across the whole of human experience and to mix intellect with feeling. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna, from project gutenberg. He drew on his personal experiences for this book, the sand pebbles. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published.
Navy in 1931 to help support his mother and younger brothers and spent over twenty years in the navy, serving for a while in china on a gunboat that patrolled the yangtze river. Foss science stories pebbles, sand, and silt grade 12 by lawrence hall of science and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. With steve mcqueen, richard attenborough, richard crenna, candice bergen. Best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards customer service free shipping shopper toolkit registry sell.
Two of those years were on a yangtze river gunboat. He joined the us navy in 1931 to help support his mother and younger brothers and spent over twenty years in the navy, serving for a while in china on a gunboat that patrolled the yangtze river. This nowclassic novel by richard mckenna enjoyed great critical acclaim and commercial success when it was first published in 1962. Quotes edit jake holman knew he was a strange bird and he was used to going aboard new ships. The distributed proofreaders canada ebook of the sand pebbles.
The sand pebbles very likely no novel ever has devoted more prose to a ships engines than does the sand pebbles. The critically acclaimed new york timesbestseller and the basis for the academy award and golden globenominated film starring steve mcqueen. The sand pebbles is a 1962 novel by american author richard mckenna about a yangtze river gunboat and its crew in 1926. It is set in 1926 in revolutiontorn china, when the crew of an american gunboat, the san pablo, is called upon to rescue some american missionaries working far up the yang tse river. Buy the sand pebbles by richard mckenna, robert shenk from waterstones today. I think richard mckenna gives a very fair look at history and i cannot see mckenna s account of these events as revisionist in any way whatsoever. Attenborough earned the golden globe as best supporting actor, and although the film left the academy awards with no trophies in hand, it was nominated for eight, including best picture, actor mcqueen, supporting actor. Buy the paperback book sand pebbles by richard mckenna at indigo. The sand pebbles, published in 1962, takes place in 1920s china. It was the winner of the 1963 harper prize for fiction. China is governed by feuding warlords, and its foreign trade is dominated by foreign treaty powers including the usa, japan, and the leading european nations, all of which maintain strong naval and marine forces in china to maintain their positions and protect foreign persons and property. He was best known for his historical novel, the sand pebbles which tells the story of an american sailor serving aboard a gunboat on the chinese yangtze river in 1925. It is the first novel by a man who actually served on a u. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The sand pebbles is a 1966 american war film directed by robert wise in panavision. Richard mckenna author richard mckenna was born in idaho in 19. Three years after his starmaking turn in the great escape, steve mcqueen delivers what many consider his most complete performance, as the antisocial crewmember of an american ship docked in china during the civil war of 1926. Farren told about the red dogs stroke of wit against the pea johns and he had to explain it before the limeys could laugh. Richard mckennas descriptions of the naval river gunboat san pablo and its engine room recall melvilles extensive detailing of the pequod. Robert anderson adapted the screenplay from the 1962 novel of the same name by richard mckenna.
Literature, fiction, americans, naval history, history. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Then, his agent saw a book in him and he started a story on a much larger scalethe sand pebbles, which eventually became a 597page epic. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna, 9781557504463, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. He listened to the little man in the subbasement to clue him in all this in a long piece on the act of writing which begins this book, but his heart was with the man in the engineroom. The sand pebbles set in china on the eve of revolution, the book tells the story of an old u. Winner of the 1963 harper prize novel contest, this book was written by richard mckenna, who, in addition to his prolific writing career, also served in the navy for 22 years, beginning in 1931 during the great depression, through wwii and the korean war. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna fantastic fiction. Mckenna, richard richard milton 191964 date of first publication. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna 1984, hardcover, reprint at the best online prices at ebay. The crew are called after the ship the sand pebbles. Robert andersons screenplay incorporates much of the novels complexity within its mammoth narrative, but the decision to turn the film into an apologetic. The main character is jake holman and he is the engineer of a navy steamer called the san pablo.
If the book is under in your country, do not download or redistribute this file. The movie, which was adapted from a novel by richard mckenna, features stunning visuals and one of jerry goldsmiths finest scores. The sand pebbles is one of my favorite movies and i always wanted to read the book. Jul 01, 2000 buy the paperback book sand pebbles by richard mckenna at indigo. The sand pebbles is an historical fiction which portrays events and characters in chinas 1926 uprising. Jul 01, 2010 richard mckenna was born in idaho in 19. Richard milton mckenna may 9, 19 november 1, 1964 was an american sailor and novelist. The sand pebbles was a major career achievement for director robert wise, though he was denied an oscar nomination. This ebook is made available at no cost and with very few restrictions. The sand pebbles was a critical and commercial success. The sand pebbles by robert wise robert wise, steve mcqueen. The woodcock s, nickname was timber dick, and the sailors were timber dicks, and in any main river port the timber dicks and sand pebbles always stood together. Many of his works were published posthumously, although he did publish many sf works in the pulp magazines. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna, robert shenk waterstones.
As a spirit of nationalism inspired by chiang kaisheks leadership begins to sweep through china, the river gunship san pablo is ordered to patrol the region and to protect us citizens. Based on the real life experiences of the author who served on the yangtze patrol, which protected european interests in the region from 18541949. I think richard mckenna gives a very fair look at history and i cannot see mckennas account of these events as revisionist in any way whatsoever. Id recommend anyone whos seen the movie to also read mckennas novel. A gripping novel of adventure set in china in the 1920s. Steve mcqueen received his only academy award nomination for his performance in this epicscale war drama, based on the novel by richard mckenna. The sand pebbles has been one of my favourite films since i first saw it on television in 1976. Navy gunboat, the san pablo, and her dedicated crew of sand pebbles on patrol in the far reaches of the yangtze river to show the flag and protect. The sons of martha and other stories by richard mckenna. As a spirit of nationalism inspired by chiang kaisheks leadership begins to sweep through china, the river gunship san pablo is ordered to patrol the region and. The sand pebbles is set in revolutionary china in 1926.
The sand pebbles is a lengthy but engaging mix of romance, historical epic, political commentary, and adventure. Richard milton mckenna 9 may 19 1 november 1964 was an american sailor and writer, most famous for his one completed novel, the sand pebbles, which was published in 1963. The sand pebbles is an interesting and entertaining novel set in china circa 1925. Set in china on the eve of revolution, the book tells the story of an old u.
In 1962, he published the sand pebbles, a hugely successful novel which later became a file starring steve mcqueen. Navy gunboat, the san pablo, and her dedicated crew of sand pebbles on patrol in the far reaches of the yangtze river to show the flag and protect american missionaries and businessmen from bandits. In 1926, as china teeters on the edge of political. The story of jake holman, an engineer on board the u. San pablo, an american gunboat on the yangtze river in china in the 1920s. The sand pebbles by richard mckenna nook book ebook. The acting was also notable, with especially fine performances from mcqueen and mako.
Anderson adapted the screenplay from the 1962 novel of the same name by richard mckenna. Aug 20, 2019 set in china on the eve of revolution, the book tells the story of an old u. The film features steve mcqueen, richard attenborough, richard crenna, candice bergen, mako, simon oakland, larry gates, and marayat andriane. The sand pebbles rosettabooks into film by mckenna, richard. It is likely that audiences seeing the film robert wise has made from richard mckenna s popular novel, the sand pebbles, will not see it simply as a tale of the involvement of a united states. The sand pebbles motion picture website established january. In 1931, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted in the united states navy and served for ten years in asia. Buy the sand pebbles by richard mckenna online at alibris.
307 58 616 1473 1245 1432 245 904 1329 1083 970 1355 87 927 785 956 164 294 689 516 1418 1297 1126 1522 873 563 190 324 1435 1368 422 411 461 1105 1486 828 1560 511 732 645 279 489 818 267 13 823 610 1476 1274