Almost 200 years ago, Sir William Hillary was key in forming the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) - an organized rescue service made up of people fearless (or scared but willing to do it anyway) enough to head out into gales and storms and anything else the sea could throw at boats and ships to rescue anyone who could be rescued. In his time, of course, those rescue attempts were often just people oaring their way out into the sea. These days, the rescues are more high tech, but no less hair-raising at times.

This book is not so much just a history of the service, but a book of many of the more exciting/dramatic/history-making rescues, with the history of the service woven in here and there as the summaries of those rescues move forward in time. Some of them (Grace Darling) are more well known outside the UK than others - most others, I would say. They all, however, encapsulate quite well the deeds of people willing to risk their own lives to save others.

If you like real life rescue stories, and derring-do on the sea, you'll likely enjoy this collection of stories and the history sailing underneath them.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the review copy.

It seems incredible that after the creation of the RNLI (formerly The Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwrecks), around 200 years ago, it continues to be primarily funded by charity donations. This book highlights some of the more (as well as the less) well known courageous people who, as volunteers, risked their lives to save others. This is a well researched book and I enjoyed learning about all the brave volunteers. Sir William Hillary is the man given credit for setting up this wonderful institution. It was as interesting to read a little more detail about the celebrated Grace Darling as it was to hear about the heroes who have slipped from common knowledge. There are photos and pictures at the end of the book. It would have been nice to see a few more illustrations of these audacious men and women. Thank you to Martyn R Beardsley, Net Galley and Clipper Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this a well-researched book about various rescues made by members of the RNLI.

The story of Grace Darling I was familiar with but the others, not. It is amazing to me that so many of the rescues in this book took place by men rowing out to ships in gale-force storms. I can't even imagine it. I was once caught in a storm on a sailing boat in the middle of the English Channel and that was terrifying enough; reading these rescues made my heart speed up, absolutely!

I am in awe of the skill and bravery of these incredible people who rescue others in appalling conditions (even with a motorised rescue craft, it is still very risky) and I am glad that a book such as this has been written about these unsung heroes.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History.