The Wind Off the Sea

by David Beaty

hardcover with dark dust jacket

350 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

David Beaty is a British author of fictional and non-fictional works. He got a Master degree in history (1940) at Merton College, Oxford, and a Master degree in psychology (1965) at University College, London. He was trained pilot in the Royal Air Force during the 2nd World War. His works focus on aviation, especially on psychological aspects of aircraft pilots.

Beaty was born in 1919 in Ceylon, married in 1948 to Betty Smith, a writer herself (see Betty Beaty), and is father of three daughters. He died in 1999.

Sources:
- Europa Publications (Editor), International Who's Who of Authors and Writers 2004, Psychology Press, 2003
- Ken Beere, Obituary: David Beaty , Independent, 22.12.1999

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some authors leave more than just their books to the world. David Beaty was one such person. This book touches on some of Beaty's extracurricular activities and is an engaging read as well. Will search out more titles by him as he reminds me a bit of Nevil Shute.

[J McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

By turns engrossing and moving, David Beaty's psychological study of one man at war and at peace, but never at peace with himself, is ultimately a minor masterpiece. There is a Chekhovian twist about a small personal characteristic that runs deep through the book, and through Gallagher's fate. Of course, the psychology of men at war is often difficult to understand - in this case Gallagher is a member of Bomber Command, incinerating German cities, and nobody to this day knows how many civilians died in those raids. This contributes to his fate; though the author fuses this with some editorialising about nuclear versus conventional slaughter.

A good read, and a troubling one, with unsympathetic characters all round.