Jean Paget has survived World War II as a prisoner of the Japanese in Malaya. After the war she comes into an inheritance that enables her to return to Malaya to repay the villagers who helped her to survive. But her return visit changes her life again, when she discovers that an Australian soldier she thought had died has survived. She goes to Australia in search of him and of the town he described to her. Jean sets out to apply the same determination that helped her to survive the war, to turning the community into 'a town like Alice'. She finds both her soldier and romance.
A Town Like Alice (Vintage Classics)
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This direct, simply told story is about honest, dogged virtues, at least as redolent of its era as street parties or 'We'll Meet Again' (The Times )
A Town like Alice is the most romantic book I've ever read...Jean's determination to survive is inspirational, and the love she finds later is beautiful (Catherine Tate Mail on Sunday )
A ripping tale of budding romance and grace under pressure (The Times )
A heart-rending tale of torture, human fortitude and forbearance, inhumanity and hardship (Sunday Times )
That supreme storyteller, Nevil Shute...I could hardly bear to put the book down. I read it voraciously for days (May Lovell The Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
A Town like Alice is the most romantic book I've ever read...Jean's determination to survive is inspirational, and the love she finds later is beautiful (Catherine Tate Mail on Sunday )
A ripping tale of budding romance and grace under pressure (The Times )
A heart-rending tale of torture, human fortitude and forbearance, inhumanity and hardship (Sunday Times )
That supreme storyteller, Nevil Shute...I could hardly bear to put the book down. I read it voraciously for days (May Lovell The Times ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Book Description
'Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language... remarkable' John Ezard, Guardian
--This text refers to an alternate
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
73 of 75 people found the following review helpful
By S. Wilkes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
(This review is for the 'Vintage Shute' / Eric Lomax edition published September 2009, with a silhouette on the cover).
I bought this book for myself to replace a long lost copy, and looked forward to reading it again. I am so disappointed that so much has been removed from this copy, especially as it is described as a 'vintage classic' - I fail to understand how something can be described thus when it has been so altered. I'm irritated that it hasn't been described anywhere as being abridged. There really must be about a quarter of the book missing and it ends quite suddenly. I am writing to Amazon to suggest that they make it clear that this copy has been abridged because there really is absolutely no reason for it to be. I want to read a book as it has been written - I don't need somebody else to decide that I don't really need to read great chunks of it!!
I bought this book for myself to replace a long lost copy, and looked forward to reading it again. I am so disappointed that so much has been removed from this copy, especially as it is described as a 'vintage classic' - I fail to understand how something can be described thus when it has been so altered. I'm irritated that it hasn't been described anywhere as being abridged. There really must be about a quarter of the book missing and it ends quite suddenly. I am writing to Amazon to suggest that they make it clear that this copy has been abridged because there really is absolutely no reason for it to be. I want to read a book as it has been written - I don't need somebody else to decide that I don't really need to read great chunks of it!!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By D. Curtis
Format:Paperback
I have read and reread this book over many years. Once you become a fan of Nevil Shute you will want to read all his books. Take it on holiday and give it your all. Let yourself be submersed in the period; a different age to now with a different style of hero. This story is of ordinary people, with an extrarordinary tale to tell. A meeting of 2 people, both victims of the Japanese, who fall in love under the harshest of conditions and then do it all over again, 6 years later when the war is over. Read it more than once to get the full benefit.And then go onto read more from the famous author, who had so many qualities and gifts. How could he be an engineer, serve in secret operations in the war, be a sailor and a pilot and go on long distance air ship travel, as well as write all these novels.
38 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By Christine L
HALL OF FAME
Format:Paperback
I have just re-read this book for the umpteenth time and I still love it as much as I did after reading it the first time. One of the really powerful features of this book is the fact that although the book is fiction, the foundation of the story is based on the experience of countless women and children who found themselves captured by the Japanese during World War 2.
I'd say that this book has everything. It's a book about remarkable survival and remarkable people. It's an adventure book. It's a love story. The characters are very sympathetic and you can't help liking them and hoping that they find happiness. It's one of the few books I've read that I've actually wanted a sequel to.
For a man of his generation I also think that Mr Shute wrote about Jean Paget with an insight that's second to none. I'm well impressed.
On a whole, it's a very well written page-turner that I thoroughly enjoy every time I pick it up.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By "ddaphne"
Format:Paperback
I love this book!!
The author really lets you see into the characters lives and have a real empathy for them. If you have seen the Film I would read the book, it can only enhance your enjoyment.
If you have not seen the film, the story is of a young girl during the war being marched around by the Japanese because no prisoner of war camp was available for women. Then the story jumps to post war life in London, and her dealings with her lawyer. Then another jump as she goes in search of what really happened to the man she fell in love with during the war whom she saw executed, then finally her new life in Austrialia.
Sounds confusing but its not!!
An excellent classic which you will remember for life.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Trebor12
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Again a book I have not read for some 40 years and again one I find that has lost nothing of its charm and appeal over the years. A gripping tale of the relationship between three people whistfully recounted by one of them, concerning the brief wartime acquainatnce and subsequent post war romance between the other two. Shute can be a bit 'clunky' in style from time to time but I found this not to be the case in this instance. For me the story flows as it unfolds and its main characters develop into truly believable people. ( I may be a bit influenced by the excellent film that was made of this book). Never-the-less I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone searching for a very well told story of human relationships with a happy ending.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By janemarion
Format:Audio Cassette
I was left this 'talking book' by a family friend along with several others in her will. I have read it before and have seen the film but to me, it's one of those books that you will always want to read again.
I like to listen to talking books while I am busy in the kitchen and I have enjoyed this so much. It is a very good story written many years ago when the world was not as it is now. Nevil Shute was such a good author and I have enjoyed all his books. I thoroughly recommend it.
I like to listen to talking books while I am busy in the kitchen and I have enjoyed this so much. It is a very good story written many years ago when the world was not as it is now. Nevil Shute was such a good author and I have enjoyed all his books. I thoroughly recommend it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book was chosen by the village book club but I enjoyed its factual content and its almost old fashioned naivety.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
In my opinion Nevil Shute's best book. Delivered as described and very promptly. I told my wife how good it was and unfortunately she has commandeered it!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
To be highly recommended
I am still reading it but I think it makes you feel that you are with the characters in the book and it is a real page turner. Read more
Published 2 hours ago by dorothy imrie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant read!
Have never read this, or known much about it. A good, old-fashioned story, set in England, the East and Australia.
Published 5 days ago by B. Davies
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Town Like Alice
I love Nevil Shute,s books and recommend them to everyone. A good read is On The Beach, this was written a while ago but I feel its appropiate for this day and age.
Published 9 days ago by Sally
4.0 out of 5 stars
A town like alice
I downloaded this book after seeing the film in April 2013 on channel 4 i have read this several times in the past and still enjoyed the story line. Read more
Published 20 days ago by noggin
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great nostalgic read
Having first read A Town Like Alice about 45 years ago I had a memory of enjoying the book but I think I got more out of it this time around; I have even recommended it to my son. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Sue Rickard
5.0 out of 5 stars
A classic tale - the film is almost as good as the book!
A story I have read and re-read - enjoyed it every time. Recommended for anyone who loves a book with old world charm.
Published 1 month ago by Guitarman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
I have loved this book for about 40 years. I have loaned it to young people who always love it and who adk if he has written any more books. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Linda Ceesay
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
Brilliant book - The film is not too far away from the book. It is very easy to imagine the characters.
Published 2 months ago by Andrea McAteer
4.0 out of 5 stars
a great read
A Town Like Alice is the fourteenth novel by British author, Nevil Shute. The story centres on a young Englishwoman, Jean Paget, and her experiences during World War Two in Malaya... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Cloggie Downunder
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good read with a happy ending
This is the first book I have bought for my new Kindle fire. To be honest I could have chosen any book to see how it worked on my kindle.. Read more
Published 3 months ago by T. Bennett
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