John Winton is a pen name of John Pratt (1931–2001). He was an English author and obituarist, following a career in the Royal Navy in which he rose to Lieutenant-Commander. He was born in London and served in the Korean War and during the Suez Crisis. Whilst still in the Navy, he wrote the comic novel We Joined the Navy, featuring the character of “The Artful Bodger”. Several other novels, and a number of non-fiction works on naval subjects, followed, including a biography of Admiral John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe. Pratt also served for 14 years as an obituarist for The Daily Telegraph.
Modern Era: Fiction
Modern Era Naval Fiction
Series: Artful Bodger Naval Adventures
We Joined The Navy : 1952: Will the Special Entry cadets survive basic training
We Saw The Sea : 1960: How will HMS Carousel and her characterful crew fare in the Far East?
Down The Hatch : 1961: Will it be plain sailing for HMS Seahorse on her maiden voyage?
Never Go To Sea : 1963: How will The Artful Bodger cope in the murky world of ‘Naval Public Relations’?
All The Nice Girls : 1964: What could an unmarried submarine officer possibly find to do ashore?
Good Enough For Nelson : 1977: This time The Artful Bodger is in command - what could possibly go wrong…?
Series: John Winton Cold War Thrillers
Polaris : A top-secret naval base in Scotland is now the home of Britain’s nuclear arsenal
HMS Leviathan : 1966: HMS Leviathan should have been the jewel in the Royal Navy’s crown
The Fighting Temeraire : 1970: Is Temeraire set to become an iron coffin?
Series: n/a
A Drowning War : 1940: They fight the enemy bravely … but can they conquer the might of the ocean?
The Night of the Scorpion : 1944: Every month the Shoeflies risk their lives in darkness
Aircraft Carrier : 1945: Can a stranded fighter pilot survive the might of the Japanese navy?
The Good Ship Venus : 1984: A rollicking Navy yarn packed full of humour!
One Of Our Warships : 1975: Will Freddie release the demons from HMS Pandora’s box of secrets…?
Non-Fiction
Modern Era Naval Non-Fiction
Series: Leading the Modern Royal Navy
Series: 20th Century Naval Innovations
Series: Warship Battles of World War Two
Carrier Glorious: The Life and Death of an Aircraft Carrier
Series: World War Two at Sea
Series: n/a