Nevil Shute is one of the most wondrous storytellers I've ever read. He uses such simple premises, he gives you details you'd never think of, his books are peopled with ordinary people who do extraordinary things. This book begins at the end of WWII and continues through the early 50's. A Leading Wren who loses everyone she loves. A man who searches for her in vain only to find her in a most unusual place when it's too late. Shute uses a most unusual style in telling this story, but he manages to still keep it straightforward and entertaining. What a great read!

The Breaking Wave is set in the aftermath of World War II, the story of a British Wren and an Australian airman. Nevil Shute, as usual, draws one in with his subtle character development and outstanding descriptions. The twist in the way the story is laid out was deftly handled leaving me in awe of the author's skill by the conclusion. The story moved me as few others I have ever read.

Too few of Nevil Shute's books are in print in this country--fortunately, this is one of the better one.

When an old Scottish man dies, London solicitor Noel Strachan learns that his sole heir is a young woman named Jean Paget. Strachan acts as her trustee, dispensing money as needed under the will, but the old lawyer soon finds himself falling for the young lady. Before Strachan has done more than shown her London's culture, Paget is off to Malaya to repay the village where she stayed during WWII by digging a well. She convinces Strachan to release the money by telling the story (based on real life) of how she and other women were held prisoner by the Japanese, but eventually found refuge in a small village. Before they go there, they encounter a young Australian, Joe Harmon, who is crucified for stealing food for them. When Paget returns to Malaya, she learns that Harmon survived and returned to Australia. Meanwhile, Harmon has gone to England to seek her, having thought she was married when they met in Malaya. They eventually meet up in Australia (Strachan, out of his own love for Jean, has gently attempted to frustrate the meeting). Jean, determined to make her home in Harmon's home area, sets out to make the godforsaken town into "A Town Like Alice"--a modern town like Alice Springs.

It is a fascinating story. But overlooked in every review I read is the role of the old solicitor, Noel Strachan, who finds himself in love with Jean some decades too late, and is unable to serve as a rival to Joe Harmon. He soon surrenders his unexpressed (even to himself) love out of regard for Jean's interest. His unrequited love, lends a poignant note to the book.

There are no villains. Even the dark characters, like the Japanese who crucified Harmon, are seen as human beings doing the best they can. The fact that the acts they do can be terrible do not alter the fact that they are human beings, and they are painted as such.

Harmon and the other Australian characters are not painted as well as the other characters; perhaps Shute, who had only recently emigrated to Australia, was afraid of erring in characterizations.

Still, a fine book that made a great miniseries.

Having spent time in the Australian outback in the 1960's, I found this book (read several years later) to be the ONLY story I've EVER read that captures the true character, lifestyle, and sense of the Australian people. The story woven around World War II and and the subsequent re-uniting of the main characters years later, makes this novel compelling and impossible to put down. The PBS series Masterpiece Theatre aired this story in the late 1970's and was an excellent portrayal of Shute's work. The two-volume video, while shortening the PBS work considerably, is still an enjoyable viewing experience.

This book by Nevil Shute was presented in a PBS series and if you saw the movie you should read the book. Nevil Shute is a master storyteller and this is one of his best.The story chronicals a young English womans forced march through southeast Asia as a war prisoner and her life afterwards as she leaves her home to find the Austrailian soldier who helped her.Together they begin to build a small outback settlement into their dream town, " A town like Alice". This is a great book for all ages and I am sure after reading it you too will become a Nevil Shute fan.