Trustee from the Toolroom

By: Nevil Shute

Narrated by: Frank Muller

Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

Keith Stewart, a retiring and ingenious engineer, could not have been happier in his little house in the shabby London suburb of Ealing. There he invented the mini-motor, the six-volt generator, and the tiny Congreve clock. Then a chain of events sweeps him into deep waters and leads him to his happiest discovery yet.

©1960 Heather Felicity Norway and Union Trustee Company of Australia, Ltd. (P)1988 Recorded Books, LLC

Social Engineering

This was a very entertaining and relaxing read... Keith is a mild mannered paragon, and the engineering components of the story were fun... Down to its crux it's a story of taken on responsibility and how friendships can germinate in unexpected ways... Its about doing the right thing, making friends, and being who you are w/o reservation... The characters are easy and likable, and the narration is top notch...

Enjoyed a story of a principled man.

Very good story. The reader was very good also. As stated in the heading, the lead character shows integrity. I have recommended this book to others and they too have enjoyed it. This is a new Author for me, I will look for other books by him.

A great story! A great listen!

This is a great story that leaves the listener with a positive feeling. At the end of the book I wondered why there aren't more books like this in the world.

Delightful!

Really wasn't expecting too much from this book but since it was on sale I decided to try this (to me) new author. I am SO glad....it is simply so much fun, even though it became clear it was written some years ago. Great story!

A Simple Read That Just Makes You Feel Good

Would you listen to Trustee from the Toolroom again? Why?

I rarely listen to any book twice, but I can see myself listening to this one again in the future.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Trustee from the Toolroom?

Hard to answer this question specifically without creating a spoiler. I will just say that it is when it becomes clear that having character, integrity and doing the right thing matters.

What about Frank Muller’s performance did you like?

Good job portraying the characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Story of How One Good Man's Life Can Influence So Many

Any additional comments?

A good read if you are looking for something that is not too heavy or long, but will leaving you feeling good.

Masterfully Done - Five Stars

Perhaps Nevil Shute Norway's best book, although A Town Like Alice may win out on that score, this is a delightful tale with delightful characters. The story itself is dramatic at the same time that it is whimsical. The Oregon bumpkin who sailed by the seat of his pants, the thinly disguised John Weyerhauser, and other characters who came and went gave the book great charm. It is a great read AND a great listen. The reader, Frank Muller, was excellent in that he gave the book flavor and character without "performing." This book is one of the very few that can be listened to multiple times with great enjoyment on each occasion. (I've done it.)

A gentle story, a gentle man

The New York Times review written in 1960 called this Nevil Shute's best book. Fans of "A Town Like Alice" may not agree, but it certainly is a worthy story. Would that there were more people like the hero of this tale and fewer of the kind who would look down on him or not take his skills or his courage seriously. The narration is well done and I enjoyed the fact that the author seems never to use the word "on" but always says "upon." Maybe this is a 1960 British thing, but it's charming. Listen to this when you've had enough of the bad news in the world and want a simple story about a decent man.

I added this book to my collection in Nov 2018

It's now June 2019. I don't remember why I bought this book. It was probably on sale or one of the daily deals. I kept bypassing this book as I read this newest book in a series I follow or that new recommendation that looked so very intriguing. I finally ran low on credits, finished up books that were lower on my pecking order, and got down to this book left on my device. I decided to listen for an hour or two before I went to sleep last night. At 3 or 4 a.m. this morning, I finally had to stop listening as I was dozing off and missing bits and pieces. This morning, I woke up and finished it straight through.

My preference is science fiction. I like LARGE adventures with spaceships, technology, aliens, and quests. I've found an interest in post-apocalyptic novels and LitRPG noels where the protagonist sets his will against all challenges and somehow finds a way to succeed. This novel had all the impossible challenges and adventures on a small scale without the spaceships, zombies, or dragons. It just had an unimposing man, Keith, living a simple life doing what he loved and sharing his passion through a small magazine where he regularly contributed. He never thought twice about spending his time and meager resources to help others. Unbeknownst to him, he created a following throughout the world that cared about him and respected him for his knowledge and his willingness to spend his time responding to their questions. He is a pudgy, middle-aged, low-income fellow who is perfectly happy with his situation until life sends him on an adventure where the followers and friends he created over the years jump at the chance to help the man who never neglected to help them. The characters are engaging, the writing flows extremely well, and while some of the ideas and/or terminology are outdated or even appalling by modern standards, the book has some good moral messages.

I am very glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and listened to book. Being true to myself, I’m imagining how a similar story could be done in a science fiction setting. Keithee-wan-konobee, saves the universe; Keith the blacksmith’s great adventure; Keith the spaceship engineer saves the earth; or something similar. LOL

This is a must listen!

Re-Record this great book with a Brit!

What did you like best about Trustee from the Toolroom? What did you like least?

As in all Shute's books you have a tale well told - this one about an ordinary man and the lengths he goes to due his duty. Every time I read this book it affirms for me the intrinsic goodness of the nature of man and reminds me that we all influence one anothers lives in ways we may never see.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Frank Muller?

ANYONE. Specifically someone with a British Accent who could do American Accents and not vice versa.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Of Course.

Any additional comments?

I feel this book deserves to be re-recorded by a reader who knows and loves Shute. While from a technical standpoint every word can be understood, it is, in my opinion the most disappointing of all the books I have ordered from Audible because of the reader.

Another Winner from Nevil Shute

Here is another example of consistently good writing from a GREAT author. The Story is very well constructed, the character development outstanding and the descriptions of Keith's journey to find the "lost ship" very detailed and believable. This is the story of a "simple man" with meager means who did an extra ordinary thing to fulfill to the letter his duty as a trustee for his young niece upon the untimely death of her parents.
Of course the narration is top notch with Frank Muller at the helm.
Don"t miss this classic!