Landfall (Vintage Classics) [Import] [Paperback]

Nevil Shute (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 2009 | Series: Vintage Classics

A fresh-faced young pilot, mistakenly sinks a British submarine. He is reprimanded and sent to a remote posting to test an experimental new bomb, a dangerous mission far away from the girl he loves who has set about clearing his name.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A story that grips the reader with its quiet veracity, its truth to character, its understanding of the young man of the R.A.F and the nature of their job, of the so much owing so many to so few. The story has pace and excitement, unforced sentiment and wholly unaffected gaiety...Alive, humourous and finely restrained in feeling throughout...fascinating descriptions of Service operations...thrilling and eloquent Times Literary Supplement A admirably good story, full of drama and good humour Evening Standard A good simple story...genuinely moving New Statesman Direct, simple, wholly free from highfalutin nonsense and entirely charming Daily Mail Exciting reading of war on land and in the air kirkus reviews

About the Author

Nevil Shute Norway was born on 17 January 1899 in Ealing, London. After attending the Dragon School and Shrewsbury School, he studied Engineering Science at Balliol College, Oxford. He worked as an aeronautical engineer and published his first novel, Marazan, in 1926. In 1931 he married Frances Mary Heaton and they went on to have two daughters. During the Second World War he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve where he worked on developing secret weapons. After the war he continued to write and settled in Australia where he lived until his death on 12 January 1960. His most celebrated novels include Pied Piper (1942), No Highway (1948), A Town Like Alice (1950) and On the Beach (1957).

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Vintage Classics (October 19, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099530058
• ISBN-13: 978-0099530053
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,900,453 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nevil Shute Norway was born in 1899 in Ealing, London. He studied Engineering Science at Balliol College, Oxford. Following his childhood passion, he entered the fledgling aircraft industry as an aeronautical engineer working to develop airships and, later, airplanes. In his spare time he began writing and he published his first novel, Marazan, in 1926, using the name Nevil Shute to protect his engineering career. In 1931 he married Frances Mary Heaton and they had two daughters. During the Second World War he joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve where he worked on developing secret weapons. After the war he continued to write and settled in Australia where he lived until his death in 1960. His most celebrated novels include Pied Piper (1942), A Town Like Alice (1950), and On the Beach (1957).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing and Suspenseful, October 8, 2000

By 

M. Wood - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Landfall (Hardcover)

I have just reread this book after many years, and it was just as charming and engrossing as the first time. Nevil Shute's work never fails to bring to life the characters and make real the settings, generally of young people trying to make their way in a world fraught with the upheaval of World War II. "Landfall" is a simple story built upon heartfelt emotion and the edginess of danger. It sets the cold technical and strategic details of war against the fumbling confusion of young people trying to find their way through the wilderness of first love. The plot is absorbing and suspenseful, the characters appealing, and the style first rate.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic adventure novel during WWII, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Landfall (Audio Cassette)

A romantic adventure novel that takes place at the height of World War II. A British air reconnaissance officer pursues a local pub waitress, only to have his life thrown into chaos when he accidentally bombs a British U-boat, mistaking it for a German sub. A relationship that began as a romantic fling is suddenly tested by sincere trust and devotion as Mona fights to make the Royal British Navy listen to the evidence she has discovered about this tragedy that could absolve Lt. Chambers. A twisting, spine-bending climax leaves the reader on the edge of their seat as the lieutenant's attempt to amend his actions nearly separates the two forever. This is a story about the strength of true love and how it can overcome any obstacle ... even a world war.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A romantic nostalgic adventure for all ages., March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Landfall (Audio Cassette)

A romantic adventure novel that takes place at the height of World War II. A British air reconnaissance officer pursues a local pub waitress, only to have his life thrown into chaos when he accidentally bombs a British U-boat, mistaking it for a German sub. A relationship that begins as a romantic fling is suddenly tested by sincere trust and devotion as Mona fights to make the Royal British Navy listen to the evidence she has discovered about this tragedy that may absolve Lt. Chambers. A twisting, spine-bending climax leaves the reader on the edge of their seat as fate almost separates the two forever. This is a story about the strength of true love and how it can overcome any obstacle ... even a world war.