The Finest Hours

The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue

By: Michael J. Tougias, Casey Sherman

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

In the winter of 1952, New England was battered by the most brutal nor’easter in years. As the weather wreaked havoc on land, the freezing Atlantic became a wind-whipped zone of peril, setting the stage for one of the most heroic rescue stories ever lived.

On February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, were in the same horrifying predicament. Built with “dirty steel,” and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving the dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic’s mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships.

The spellbinding tale is overflowing with breathtaking scenes, as boats capsize, bows and sterns crash into one another, and men hurl themselves into the raging sea in a terrifying battle for survival.

Not all of the 84 men caught at sea in the midst of that brutal storm survived, but considering the odds, it’s a miracle - and a testament to their bravery - that any at all came home to tell their tales.

©2009 Casey Sherman and Michael Tougias (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“ The Finest Hours recounts the incredible heroism of the Coast Guard, who risked their lives to save others. A gripping read.” (James Bradley, New York Times best-selling author)

“Look no further for the real-life adventure of the year. The Finest Hours is a rousing page-turner, a fascinating history, and an inspiring ode to the courage and professionalism of men who face bitter winds and black mountainous seas…all to do a dangerous job. Put it on the shelf next to The Perfect Storm. That’s where it belongs!” (William Martin, New York Times best-selling author)

“Tougias and Sherman never sensationalize, never go beyond the facts, and yet capture all the pain, physical and emotional, of the survivors and their families.” ( Providence Journal)

Mind Blowing Moxie!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Saw the movie trailer for the upcoming Disney adaptation of this story so I had to hear the story first. Not really sure if Walt's team will do this great story of true heroism any justice or not but very glad I listened.

What did you like best about this story?

The story of the CG 36-500 and her crew is simply amazing. It is very hard to imagine the shear scale of the events as they unfolded and the courage to take them on without hesitation.

Any additional comments?

The bottom line is that I like history- especially WWII era. This book has real heroic history. Because it made me feel and made me think...I recommend.

Compelling story of courage!

I love this book and am thankful that it also covered the story of the Fort Mercer rescue along with the Pendleton. Both were amazing, dramatic, and took great courage.

confusing going between different stories

I loved the movie. Book was good but very confusing several times when the go from one story to another and your trying to follow what story they are talking about. Confusing. I enjoyed knowing the after story of the men's lives, which wasn't told in the movie.

2 Hour Epilogue

I thought it was great book right up until I had about 2 hours left. Past that point it seemed to be filled to the brim with fluff. Honestly this book would have been much better at about half the length.

gripping portrayal of our country's brave members

this production was a gripping portrayal of the Brave members of Arbor Coast Guard Family. for those of us who live inland we don't realize the valuable service that the Coast Guard provides to our country this is a well-presented book.

A fantastic event but somewhat downplayed

What made the experience of listening to The Finest Hours the most enjoyable?

The details of each rescue and the challenges faced by the Coast Guard crews were remarkable. Their dedication for the sake of saving other putting their lives at risk is worth recognition and respect.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Finest Hours?

Thinking that a ship (in this case 2 ships...) could split in two and remain afloat for so long is just unbelievable!!!! "Seeing" a ship in high seas in already shocking now imagining just half of it floating is mind blowing.

Which scene was your favorite?

The work of rescuing sailors in high seas (high, to say the least) is just unimaginable... One of the book characters described it well when later, watching "the Perfect Storm" movie said "It was just like that!!!" and I remember those scenes well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The book became a movie, which I'm now ready to watch!!!

Any additional comments?

I don't think the narrator was able to properly describe the magnitude of the events that unfolded. The details that preceded that main events and those after where not as rich and captivating as I am used with other books.

A lot of details

I had to seen the movie which was the succinct, exciting retelling done and only a few hours. I think this may be one of those rare occasions where the movie was better than the book.
The full length story was interesting but it’s six hours dragged on with streams of details and names and places. To me, the story has really reached its dramatic / climactic conclusion with the rescue. But it felt like there was another two hours of minutia.

Overall good

It is very exciting and keeps your attention. It was very well written and read. Micheal Toubias did an excellent job in presenting many details of the events and people in an engaging way. It's an incredible story! One can definitely see the hand of God in it. Unfortunately there were a few swearwords, but otherwise it was great.

Honest and revealing, excellent and inspiring

I stumbled across this book never having heard of or seen the movie or even heard of the events described in it. I went into it not knowing fully what it would be about or what the outcome would be. That, and the awe inspiring nature of this story made for a spellbinding audiobook experience. I have long been impressed with the service of the Coast Guard, but the selflessness and sacrifice of these many men detailed in The Finest Hours was still just hard to even imagine. And to know, that like so many heroes, they felt fear, pain, discouragement (this is perhaps a huge understatement) yet pressed onward into impossible conditions in their quest to save lives. One thing that stood out to me was the youth (and yet maturity) of the rescuers. These men were men while they were still in their teens, in sharp contrast with our modern culture which often encourages and expects men to be like teens well into their twenties and even thirties. Excellent book and topic I will be sharing with my own young sons.

Can still feel the cold water

About a time long pasted when young men got off the couch had character and did extraordinary things.