The Incident by Marc Rivette (Digit Books G501, 1961)A long, powerful novel about a handful of survivors afloat in the Pacific after their ship is torpedoed (in peacetime) by an unidentified submarine. The book, originally published in the USA by World Publishing in 1957, spent a couple of weeks in the New York Times bestseller list in 1957/58 and was reprinted in the UK to good reviews by Cassell in 1958.
Given its success, it's surprising that author Marc Rivette did not, as far as I know, write any further novels. Born 8 June 1916 in Chester, Massachusetts, the son of Frank P. Rivette and his wife Ellen Teresa (nee Kenny), Rivette was educated at St. Anthony's Seminary and attended Sacramento College, 1932-36. His career included spells as an office manager and insurance broker.
Rivette served with the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942-46. After the war he wrote book, theatre and ballet reviews for various papers including the San Francisco Chronicle and Chicago Tribune and was a contributing editor to Opera and Concert Magazine.
Rivette was married on 1 August 1963 to Elsie A. Davis (nee Bakewell). He died on 30 November 1982 in Pebble Beach, Monterey, California.
I bought the very first edition of this book yesterday at an antique store with Marc's writing on it. I was just attracked by the beautiful hard cover and the condition the book is in... didn't think I would ever read it, but after reading the first few pages, I decided to finish the book. It's very well written.
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