The Good Shepherd (nautical fiction)

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For other uses of the term The Good Shepherd, see The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd is a nautical novel by CS Forester, the author of the novels about fictional Royal Navy officer Horatio Hornblower. The hero of The Good Shepherd is the Captain of a US Navy destroyer in World War II. The hero finds himself in overall command of the escort force protecting an Atlantic convoy in the Battle of the Atlantic. He finds himself in a difficult position. The voyage in question occurs early in 1942, shortly after America's entry in to the war. Although he is an experienced officer, with many years of seniority, this voyage is our hero's very first mission in time of war. The captains of the other escort vessels are more junior than him, and much younger, but they have been at war for over two years. His relative inexperience is troubling.

The hero broods over other things he finds troubling. He is troubled by his divorce. He is troubled when he neglects his prayers. Unlike Forester's other heroes, this hero is very religious. And he is troubled by a recent judgement, during his most recent opportunity for promotion, that he should be fitted and retained. In other words he was not going to be promoted, which in our hero's inner musing explains that his career is essentially over.