Product Description

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.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77438 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 359 pages

About the Author
Nevil Shute Norway worked as an aeronautical engineer at Vickers before setting up his own airship company. He served in both world wars and was a commander in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in World War II, working on secret projects. He flew his own aircraft to Australia to research On the Beach, before settling there permanently. His books are based on his own wartime and aircraft industry experiences.

Customer Reviews

A thoroughly enjoyable classic
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.

Wonderful entrancing and yet down to earth.
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.

A true classic
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.