Nevil Shute has become one of my favourite discoveries. After reading On The Beach, Requiem For A Wren, and Landfall, I place him alongside W. Somerset Maugham and James Hilton for intriguing characters facing turning points in life. Social realism is a main theme, a critical look at the class system with empathy and desire for what is right.
With an unusual opening preface and first chapter, Lonely Road concerns Malcolm Stevenson, a Commander of the Royal Navy now running his own shipbuilding company. The preface indicates the following story was a manuscript written by Stevenson found after his death, and the first chapter is an odd mixture of drunken events and hallucinations, that may or may not be accurate. On a short holiday in Leeds, he visits a dance Palais where hostesses will dance with you for sixpence, and befriends Mollie, a young girl of no particular prospects. By chance, both a friend at Scotland Yard and his best mate then mention a strange case of possible gun-running near his large coastal estate in Dartmouth, and when they discover Mollie's brother may be involved, he is asked to become a go-between with the police. Inviting her to holiday at his seaside home leads them to investigate the case together, sail his yacht to Torquay, with time enough to fall in love.
This is a fine blend of personal reminiscence, a study of the wealthy as an unpretentious lower class girl enters their midst, a tender unexpected relationship story, and an exciting adventure culminating in a deadly chase on stormy seas. He has a thoughtful tone that doesn't judge his characters, respecting their individual stories. This was his third novel, written in 1932, that I found first-rate. This also has a deep knowledge of boat building and sailing for those who are interested. It was made into a film in 1936 (with an alternate title Scotland Yard Commands), and holds up today for its well drawn plot and unexpected finale.
I found four of Shute's novels reprinted by Heinemann in the 1950's in the 'uniform edition' - smaller sized hardcovers with matching series dust jackets. Book lovers will know how exciting it is to find fine editions of an author's work you enjoy - a pleasure to read - not only am I collecting his works in hardcover, but my sister bought them for me, making them extra memorable. No reason, that is just the kind of person she is.
My other reviews for Nevil Shute:
1932 / Hardcover / 239 pages
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