A Town Like Alice

By: Nevil Shute

Narrated by: Robin Bailey

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

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. 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...

©1989 The Trustees of the Estate of the Late Nevil Shute Norway (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Two Husbands, One Book, Two Stories

Way back in the mid seventies my first husband and I divorced. We argued over the custody of three things - our son, the dog and a book, The Legacy. I won 2 of the 3 items (he got the dog). Through the years I delighted in both my son and rereading Nevil Shute's wonderful book. The Legacy was renamed A Town Like Alice. (Personally I feel the original title fits the story better)

I enjoyed A Town Like Alice so much that when my second husband and I traveled to Australia in 1999 I insisted we visit the outback, Alice Springs in particular. We spent 2 nights and 3 days on a working station just outside Alice. I kept looking for Joe or Jean to come greet us.

What makes A Town Like Alice such a great book to read is the completion of an interesting and complex storyline. A Town Like Alice takes place in England, Malaysia and Australia. The first part of the story occurs during World War II. That part of Nevil Shute's story is somewhat historically correct. It's interesting to read about the women taken prisoner by the Japanese in Malaysia, and the strength if the human spirit. This novel has everything - war, survival, a legacy, romance, business savvy, friendship,humanity and more.

I highly recommend A Town Like Alice. It is a great book to read and an equally fine audible book. Robin Bailey, the narrator, is easy to listen to. He does well portraying all the various characters throughout the story. A Town Like Alice will not disappoint you.

Intriguing story...very well read.

I have enjoyed this story first through film and then through this book, which is very well done. Some of the racist terms used in the story are somewhat disturbing for this day and age. I refer to the term "Boong" and "Abo" and other remarks concerning Malaysians, Aborigines and other non-caucasian people. The story is still interesting and enjoyable.

No Listen Like A Town Like Alice

A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute is a simple but beautiful story about an elderly barrister, a young woman who survived internment by the Japanese in WWII, and the Australian man she comes to love. The characters are so perfectly British except for the Australian. The plot is very linear with only a few bumps of conflict yet I could not break away from this engaging listen. Again I am convinced that if it is by a British author, it is hard for any story to be told poorly

One of the greatest female characters of all time!

This is a good old-fashioned love story, timeless and inspiring. A must read, especially for anyone suffering a midlife crisis or simply in need of a positive, strong female role model, you will find it in Jean Pagent - she makes you want to be a better person.

A Story from a Different Time...

That was a bonza story! Oh my word.

Robin Bailey does a great job with the narration.

A perfect book. My second listen.

I just love this book, and the narration.
A sweet story of ordinary people of simply good character overcoming war, distance, adverse circumstances. You have to read it. Gives you hope I think.

A bit dated but great book

I say a bit dated because some of the "racial" comments. They are very out of place today, and quite a bit unsettling in places. But if you can put the story in time context, and see past the few derogatory comments, this story is a great light weight romance that's written with insight and historical and geographical detail.

Fun and thought-provoking

The thing I liked best about A Town Like Alice was how it paints a picture of the world as a changeable place - on a realistic, every day scale, by normal, every day people. It was inspiring, and not in a frou-frou "inspiring story" kind of way, but a practical way. I loved how the heroine relates to the world and the people in it in such an honest way, immediately relating to the humanity in strangers.

As a woman I'm always curious as to how well a male author is going to write a female main character, especially of her inner life. Neil Shute does pretty well, and although she's maybe slightly idealized, I liked her very much. It's an interesting workaround of this, how the narrator's voice is actually that of a male character (think benevolent old British dude) who is relating the young woman's story to the reader second hand.

Robin Bailey did a great job switching between accents (mainly between British and Australian), which just added color to an already colorful and engaging book.

Just Wonderful

I have listen to this audiobook I don’t know how many times. I loved the mini series that had Helen Morse and Brian Brown in it so I found the book. the narrator is wonderful and is exactly what I would think that Noel would sound like. The storyline is amazing do yourself a favor and get this audiobook you won’t be sorry and you’ll listen to it time and time again!

Wonderful story

Where does A Town Like Alice rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It ranks in the top 5

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jean, because of her kindness to others.

Which scene was your favorite?

When they reunited.

If you could take any character from A Town Like Alice out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Her attorney. He's such a kindly, lovable old gentleman.