The Caine Mutiny

The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk (1951) is a Pulitzer Prize–winning novel set during World War II. It tells the story of a group of U.S. Navy officers aboard the destroyer-minesweeper USS Caine, who relieve their captain, Lt. Cmdr. Philip Queeg, of command during a typhoon, believing him mentally unfit. The novel explores themes of duty, loyalty, leadership, and moral responsibility, culminating in a dramatic court-martial. It remains one of the most significant works of American war fiction.