Town Like Alice

Shute, Nevil

£9.99

After the war Jean Paget comes into an inheritance that enables her to return to Malaya. Her return visit changes her life again, when she discovers that a soldier she thought had died has survived. She goes in search of him and finds romance.

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Publish Date: 03/09/2009

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’ Guardian

Jean Paget is just twenty years old and working in Malaya when the Japanese invasion begins.

When she is captured she joins a group of other European women and children whom the Japanese force to march for miles through the jungle – an experience that leads to the deaths of many.

Due to her courageous spirit and ability to speak Malay, Jean takes on the role of leader of the sorry gaggle of prisoners and many end up owing their lives to her indomitable spirit. While on the march, the group run into some Australian prisoners, one of whom, Joe Harman, helps them steal some food, and is horrifically punished by the Japanese as a result.

After the war, Jean tracks Joe down in Australia and together they begin to dream of surmounting the past and transforming his one-horse outback town into a thriving community like Alice Springs…

With an introduction by Eric Lomax, author of The Railway Man

Additional information

Weight 255 g
Dimensions 198 × 129 × 22 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

350

Language

English

Edition

New Edition

Dewey

823.912 (edition:22)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K