My Fellow Devils (1951) by L.P. Hartley

Book review by George S: At twenty-eight years old, Margaret Pennyfather is a model upright citizen. Unmarried, she looks after her father, does much local charitable and committee work, and is the youngest person on the local bench of magistrates. In this role she has come across crime and wickedness, but sees it as a … Continue reading →

The Chequer Board by Nevil Shute (1947)

Review by Thecla W: Capt. John (Jackie) Turner suffered a head injury in a plane crash during the War. A few years later, out of the army and back in his old job as a flour salesman, he has developed neurological symptoms such as dizziness and difficulty using one hand. These are the result of … Continue reading →

The Far Country by Nevil Shute (1952)

This novel exerted a curious, oblique charm. Curious because I found myself consistently interested despite the story being so flatly told. Shute does not have an attractive writing style and one of the oddities of construction is apparent on the opening page. He tells us all about Tim Archer, a farm worker on a sheep … Continue reading →

In the Wet by Nevil Shute (1953)

Review by Jane V: As far as I can remember this is the first Nevil Shute novel I have read. Once the reader has got over the ‘write a piece for the Parish mag about your recent amazing trip’ style (well, the narrator is a vicar from the home counties) (s)he is led into a … Continue reading →

Nevil Shute (1899-1960)

This month our second reading group has been reading Nevil Shute. The discussion at our meeting on Tuesday was lengthy, and largely positive; three of us had been rather charmed by Shute’s novels, though it isn’t easy to put a finger on precisely what it is that he does so well. And to be clear, only three … Continue reading →