Sea Lion

About the Book

In 1940, as plans for the occupation of the United Kingdom unfold, personal and political loyalties on both sides are stretched beyond their limits.

Sea Lion started off as a factual examination of a fascinating period of history but soon metamorphosed into a novel. The exploration of how ordinary people reacted in extraordinary situations was very appealing to me.

Sea Lion was the code name for the planned invasion of Britain by Nazi Germany. It was not put into practice, and most historians agree that if Hitler had launched an invasion of the U.K. when he had the opportunity, it would have failed, or at best had only very limited and temporary success.

But authors are encouraged to ask “What if…?”

What if the evacuation from Dunkirk had failed? What if a German bomber had not (as is sometimes suggested) become lost and loosed its bomb load over London rather than the purely military target for which it was searching? What if Britain had lost its lead in the balance of naval power? These and many other possibilities are explored, and some people will doubtless enjoy spotting the facets of history that have been changed and those that have not.

This is a novel, however, so the real and imagined historical aspects of the book are secondary to the effects that these events have on the lives, loves and deaths of the characters. The promotion of Karl Brucke, an official in the German War Ministry, the mysterious disappearance of his lover and an indiscreet remark in a London pub spawn espionage, intrigue and treachery culminating in an ultimate test of loyalties.

If you would like more information on the background to the book, please visit the author’s own website at www.stevebarrettbooks.com.

About the Author

Steve Barrett was born in 1952. His interest in military history, particularly World War II, and his affection for the Kent and Sussex countryside are reflected in his first novel, Sea Lion. Apart from writing, Steve’s interests include history, music, walking, poetry and foreign travel. His plans for future books include a sequel to Sea Lion and a novel based on the campaigns of Alexander the Great. Author photo: Lin Barrett.