On the Beach Author: Visit Amazon's Nevil Shute Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0307473996 | Format: PDF
On the Beach Description
Review
“The most haunting evocation we have of a world dying of radiation after an atomic war.” —
The New York Times “The most shocking fiction I have read in years. What is shocking about it is both the idea and the sheer imaginative brilliance with which Mr. Shute brings it off.” —
San Francisco Chronicle“A novelist of intelligent and engaging quality, deservedly popular. . . . Nevil Shute was, in brief, the sort of novelist who genuinely touches the imagination and feeling.” —
The Times (London)
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- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; 1 edition (February 9, 2010)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0307473996
- ISBN-13: 978-0307473998
- Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
- Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
I think most people here have already summed up this book, and there is little I can add to what they've said. I'll try anyway.
On the Beach tells the story of the aftermath of an all-out nuclear war. The setting is Australia, one of the few places in the world to escape not only the bombs, put the deadly clouds of radioactive fallout from the war. But they'll only survive for a little while, because the global wind currents are slowly pushing the deadly fallout down to Antarctica. The Aussies only have a short time before they all come down with radiation sickness and die. The whole book is an emotional rollercoaster as the dreaded day of death looms ever closer, with absolutely nothing to prevent doom. Most people are resigned to their fate, and try and stay busy with various daily rituals in an effort to keep their sanity.
The two main characters of the book are Dwight Towers, a U.S. submarine commander who has survived the war and is in refuge in Australia, and Moira Davidson, a young Australian girl who is bitter about her fate and seeks consolation with Dwight. Other characters are introduced, such as a young couple with a baby and a scientist who likes racing cars. The reader is quickly drawn into these people's lives, and really comes to care about what happens to them. Needless to say, the ending isn't warm and cheery. I had to stop reading the book several times and take a little break to get rid of the huge lump in my throat. It is a VERY tough read at the end. If you don't get emotional, you just might be dead.
There are several small points to make about the book. The author, Nevil Shute, isn't exactly the best writer in terms of grammar. There are awkward sentences and errors, and it sometimes detracts from the story.
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