Crossing the Line Audiobook By Alvin Kernan cover art

Crossing the Line

A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.

Crossing the Line

By: Alvin Kernan
Narrated by: Ted Stoddard
Try for $0.00

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
From Pearl Harbor to Midway to Tokyo Bay, Alvin Kernan's career in the U.S. Navy spanned the entire war in the Pacific. Kernan joined the U.S. Navy in March 1941 at the age of 17, and his war came to an end when he went ashore at Tokyo Bay in 1945 and saw the devastation of the atomic bombs. In between, he witnessed and participated in some of the most significant events in naval history. A gifted storyteller, Kernan gives a candid account of his experiences, providing shrewd observations about the culture and ideology of an important era in naval history.A Naval Institute Press Audio Book (P)1997 by the Naval Institute Press; From the Book Crossing the Line: A Bluejacket's World War II Odyssey by Alvin Kernan ©1994 by the United States Naval Institute Armed Forces Military Naval Forces Wars & Conflicts World War II War

Critic reviews

"One of the most arresting naval autobiographies." (John Keegan)
"The best war narratives tell you not only what happened but how it felt, and not only the great events but the ordinary ones. Crossing the Line is like that." (Samuel Hynes)
All stars
Most relevant  
Great book with many details of life at sea for a common Navy sailor in ww2

Detail of a common navy sailor

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This account of submarine life during WWII has an amazing scope in that the author was there for many momentous events. If you enjoy submarines and WWII, this is a good listen. However, by all means listen to Silent Running first. It is written more as an adventure WWII submarine story and is wonderful.
The narration for this book is OK, but not my favorite. Listen to the sample. It gets better, but that will give you a flavor.

Good, But I Prefer Silent Running

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.