Pied Piper (Vintage Classics)
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Product Description
Review
Mr Shute not only writes vividly and excitingly of occupied France, but with a delightful understanding of children Sunday Times A brilliantly descriptive writer, a master of suspense Exhibits his talents at their provocative best New York Times That shattering, unaffected, literary style of his is wholly deceptive...is, in fact, masterly A small masterpiece...a book about frail but indomitable old age, simple kindness, childhood, and courage in dark confusing danger. It is not sentimental but prosaic and suspenseful on every page...it conjures up the country of the 1940's, and gently acclaims the value of ordinary decency in wicked times Remarkable books...I share a fierce personal regard for Nevil Shute
Book Description
A classic adventure from the author of A Town Like Alice and On the Beach
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have just finished reading this book. I remember Nevil Shute from my school days. I thought I might find this book a bit old fashioned but gave it a go anyway. Obviously it is of its time but is a great story told in a classic way. The tension is built superbly throughout the book. Having three kids myself I was expecting the descriptions of the children and their behaviour to be weak. I was suprised at how believable it is though. He cleverly uses the children in the book and builds on the relationships between them. This is a great read and highly recommended.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Shute wrote this in 1942, and the story plays around spring 1940. It is very much a story of its time, and about those dark days when everything was going wrong for the French, and for the English. This was true for their countries; but also very much for individuals like 70-year old Mr Howard, on a fishing holiday in the Jura to forget a personal bereavement. I don't want to give the storyline away, but it starts small, and keeps growing; both the problems, and the solutions. It is very much a Shute book about the lone individual dealing with immense problems, and discovering unsuspecting humanity in many people. It is a sad and warm book at the same time.
For me this is not yet Shute at his peak - I think he reached that a bit later. Hence the four stars. But they are four stars only compared to some of his later books - this slightly old-fashioned story is still head and shoulders above most other novels!
For me this is not yet Shute at his peak - I think he reached that a bit later. Hence the four stars. But they are four stars only compared to some of his later books - this slightly old-fashioned story is still head and shoulders above most other novels!
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first read the Pied Piper at school. It is a classic Nevil Shute - a ordinary man, placed in an extraordinary situation and making the most of it.
The story concerns a retired businessman, who after the death of his son goes to the South of France in the early part of the war. The Germany army seems far away and he spends the time fishing. However as invading troups move South he decides to return home. He is asked to take a young brother and sister, these are just the first of a number of children he acquires as be tries to return to England.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
TV film "The Pied Piper"
A few years ago "The Pied Piper" was a made for TV film starring "Peter O`Toole" and I thoroughly enjoyed it, yes I can still remember it and I am 70 years old. Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. Smith
Evocative of the French countryside
Great story, a little dated with some of the language but quite evocative of the French landscape if you like that kind of thing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by G. D. Busby
As readable as a book can be
I'm guessing that those who haven't read this book, haven't read Nevil Shute before. This book is typical of Shute's middle period, in other words, just about as good as he gets. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Tom Holt
A great propaganda classic
Pied Piper offers relief from what I find are increasingly monotonous contemporary novels. Tired of ostentatious similes, twenty to a page? Read more
Published 9 months ago by reader 451
PiedPiper - Nevil Shute
Nevil Shute's Requim for a Wren was the first book I ever read in 1956. I went on to read all the rest of his books. Pied Piper I read in 1959 and loved it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by mike McGill
Classic
Always liked Nevil Shutes novels. Not action-packed but the man was a story teller if ever there was one. once you get into the plot it is hard to put down the book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Morgana
Wartime story with a difference
This is an absorbing wartime story that builds gently to a gripping climax. The book had been on our shelves for years, but even though I had read other novels by Nevil Shute I'd... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Suzie
Pied Piper
I first read Nevil Shute in the fifties and to my delight have discovered they are all now available in Vintage Classic reprints. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Joy Peach
A true classic - still a wonderful read
I had to study this book in high school and, despite the usual implications of that, I fell in love with it then. Read more
Published 19 months ago by opinionrated
Very easy read - of its time
I have only read a couple of Nevil Shute's books but I will be reading more in the future. If you like Pat Barker, Sebastien Faulks then this is an easy book to read in the same... Read more
Published 20 months ago by jamie
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