On the Beach

De: Nevil Shute

Narrado por: Simon Prebble

A war no one fully understands has devastated the planet with radioactive fallout from massive cobalt bombing. Melbourne, Australia, is the only area whose citizens have not yet succumbed to the contamination. But there isn’t much time left, a few months, maybe more—and the citizens of Melbourne must decide how they will live the remaining weeks of their lives, and how they will face a hopeless future.

Published in 1957, On the Beach is considered a classic nuclear holocaust novel, and a masterpiece of speculative fiction.

©1957 Nevil Shute Norway (P)1991 Recorded Books, LLC

Possibly the bleakest book ever

Yes, it is bleak, but most of the bleakness is below the surface. Human nature dictates that most people will attempt to go on with their lives as best they can. Shute never lets go of that tension between bleakness and everyday life, yet there is very little preachiness in his telling. The behavior of the people in this situation feels right for the most part. Shute attempts to account for the range of possible reactions while keeping his cast of characters to a manageable size. I think by and large the population would react with the vague sense of unreality that he describes. Modern studies of people's reactions to major natural disasters bear him out on this. There are some very human and touching moments such as Commander Towers looking for presents for his children.

Shute also avoids trying to explain too much about how the world got into the situation presented in the book. The why is unimportant. The 1959 movie struggled with both the issue of a backstory and the preachiness aspect. I sympathize with the film maker's need for the ending to make more of a statement. As a thought experiment, I think Shute makes the wiser choice of leaving it up to the reader to ponder.

You won't be able to put this down

The characters and their lives are described realistically, with compassion, attention to detail, and even humor. The story could happen as easily today as when the story was set over 50 years ago. It will give you a new perspective on your own life as you realize we could share the same fate today if we don't take nuclear disarmament seriously.

Timeless story of world tradgedy and human dignity

I read the book in about 1959 and found it topical and emotionally moving. Now, in 2025, the book is still very relevant (perhaps more so than when it was published in about 1957).
Not a book about riots in the streets and everyone armed with heavy weapons. Instead, the characters face their destiny with quiet courage and dignity.
Over the decades, I have enjoyed the both movie and the book. I found this narration to be especially powerful and very well read.
I know I'll listen to this recording again.

Life's A Beach

Would you listen to On the Beach again? Why?

I might play it again.

What did you like best about this story?

When the girl's bra fell off.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

He did a good job.

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

If you only see one movie for the rest of your life....

Nothing like it

Absolute must read.

I just finished it and honestly i don't have the heart to say more. Devastating but beautiful.