This now-classic novel by Richard McKenna enjoyed great critical acclaim and commercial success when it was first published in 1962. The winner of the coveted Harper Prize, it was on the New York Times bestseller list for seven months and was made into a popular motion picture that continues to be shown on television today.
Set in China on the eve of revolution, the book tells the story of an old U.S. 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. The plot revolves around a newcomer to the boat, machinist's mate Jake Holman, a maverick and loner who dramatically alters the lives of the crew and the people they have come to save. A faithful engine-room coolie and a pretty young missionary help Holman gain an appreciation of China and its people and discover a world of humanity and promise he has never known. It is a story of old loyalties versus new values, of violence and tenderness, tragedy and humor, and it engages the reader from the first line to the last.
Genre: Thriller
Set in China on the eve of revolution, the book tells the story of an old U.S. 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. The plot revolves around a newcomer to the boat, machinist's mate Jake Holman, a maverick and loner who dramatically alters the lives of the crew and the people they have come to save. A faithful engine-room coolie and a pretty young missionary help Holman gain an appreciation of China and its people and discover a world of humanity and promise he has never known. It is a story of old loyalties versus new values, of violence and tenderness, tragedy and humor, and it engages the reader from the first line to the last.
Genre: Thriller
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Used availability for Richard McKenna's The Sand Pebbles
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
December 1991 : Hardback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna ISBN: 0-89966-857-7 / 978-0-89966-857-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Buccaneer Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1987 : Hardback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Naval Institute Press, Annapolis Availability: Amazon More details... |
April 1984 : Hardback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna ISBN: 0-87021-592-2 / 978-0-87021-592-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Naval Inst Pr Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1982 : Hardback
| Title: THE SAND PEBBLES Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Harper & Row not book club Availability: Amazon More details... |
June 1963 : Hardback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles: A Novel Author(s): Richard McKenna ISBN: 0-06-012910-7 / 978-0-06-012910-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Harpercollins Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 1962 : Hardback
| Title: THE SAND PEBBLES Author(s): RICHARD MCKENNA Publisher: Harper & Row Availability: Amazon More details... |
Paperback Editions
January 1973 : Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard Mckenna Publisher: Corgi Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
June 1971 : Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna ISBN: 0-552-08701-7 / 978-0-552-08701-8 (UK edition) Publisher: Corgi Childrens Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1970 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Fawcett Crest Availability: Amazon More details... |
1969 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Crest Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1968 : Paperback
| Title: THE SAND PEBBLES ( Film Tie-in ) Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Corgi Books Availability: Amazon More details... |
1967 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: THE SAND PEBBLES Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Fawcett Availability: Amazon More details... |
1965 : Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Publisher: Corgi Books Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
1964 : Paperback
| Title: Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard Mckenna Publisher: CREST BOOKS/FAWCETT Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
1963 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles, a novel Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: FAWCETT CREST Availability: Amazon More details... |
January 1962 : Paperback
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Harper and Row Availability: Amazon More details... |
Other Editions
July 2010 : Kindle edition
| Title: The Sand Pebbles (RosettaBooks into Film) Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: RosettaBooks Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
November 2002 : Unbound
| Title: The Sand Pebbles (Classics of Naval Literature) Author(s): Richard McKenna ISBN: 0-7953-0512-5 / 978-0-7953-0512-2 (USA edition) Publisher: Rosettabooks LLC Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 2002 : Kindle edition
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: RosettaBooks Availability: Amazon More details... |
1963 : Unknown
| Title: The Sand Pebbles: a Novel Author(s): Richard . McKenna Publisher: Gollancz Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
1963 : Unknown
| Title: The Sand Pebbles Author(s): Richard McKenna Publisher: Fawcett Availability: Amazon More details... |
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