Nevil Shute Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
| The Seafarers | (2002) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Great World War II Stories | (1989) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Valancourt Book of Horror Stories: Volume Two | (2017) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
An English novelist who later spent much of his time in Australia, the author Nevil Shute Norway, or simply Nevil Shute as he went by his pen-name, was primarily known for his books that tackled everyday issues such as work, race and social-barriers. With a clear and easy to read style, he was known for his direct and straightforward approach that immediately engaged the reader jumping right off the page. Not only that, but he also had a highly successful aeronautical career as an engineer, something which he balanced alongside his work as a writer, something which his pseudonym helped with as the two didn’t overlap.
Early and Personal Life
Born in 1899 on the 17th of January on Somerset Road, Nevil Shute was brought up in Ealing, London in the United Kingdom. With the full name of Nevil Shute Norway, Nevil Shute being just his pen-name, he was take in the world around him growing up, building upon his experiences and ideas. All of this would then later feed back into his work, informing him as a writer, as he worked on his passion for both literature and writing.
Educated at the Dragon School, the Shrewsbury School, followed by the Balliol College in Oxford, Shute got a long and extensive education. Graduating from Oxford in 1922 finally with a third-class degree based in engineering science, he went onto serve in the army as a soldier. Attending the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, he tried to get a place in the Royal Flying Corps, but couldn’t due to his stammer, ending up as a soldier instead.
Spending a large portion of the first world war, or ‘Great War’, on the ground as a soldier in the Suffolk Regiment, he saw a lot of action. During this time he would also manage to maintain his keen interest in writing, creating the style and tone for which he’d become famous for in the future. After this he went on to get a career working in aviation, operating as an aeronautical engineer for the De Havilland Aircraft Company.
Later in 1931 on on the 7th of March, he married Frances Mary Heaton, with whom he had two daughters; Shirley and Heather. Moving to Australia later on he continued working as an aeronautical engineer, whilst also maintaining his career as a writer in his spare time. Dying on the 12th of January, 1960, at the age of sixty, he left behind a long and impressive legacy that still lives on to this very day.
Writing Career
With his first novel, Stephen Morris, being originally written in 1923, it wasn’t until 1961 it was actually published and, by then, his literary career was already well underway. Known for his straightforward and simple style, he was able to write in a manner that was extremely direct for the reader, making his works highly accessible and readable. Focusing on the plights of the working classes mainly, he was interested in the ethos of good solid labor and how it was good for the individual, with physical work being a dignified pursuit in his eyes.
Class was something that he’d come back to time and time again, as it became a somewhat recurring theme of his throughout all his novels. Seeking to take down social barriers, his aim was to look at the interpersonal lives of his typically middle class protagonists, and the class based obstacles that they must overcome. Over time this would start to become his own personal brand as his career progressed, with his own unique style becoming more and more prominent throughout, a cultural impact that continues even now and on into the foreseeable future for some time yet.
So Disdained
Initially published in 1928, this is one of the earlier pieces from Nevil Shute as a writer, offering a glimpse into where he’s come from and how he’s progressed as an author. Setting up and establishing a lot of his themes, it provides the ideal entry point into his writing, as readers can see how he came to craft both his style and tone. The story itself is also extremely well crafted, providing an in-depth and well researched tale of loyalty and what friendship means.
Set in Sussex as it begins its story on a cold and rainy night, this particular thriller follows its protagonist Peter Moran as he’s first introduced driving through the countryside. Coming across a pedestrian who’s bedraggled by the rain and cold, he decides to give him a lift, but in doing so learns that it’s one of his old friends from the Royal Flying Corps. The only issue is that is old comrade requires some help, help after having acted potentially treasonably, something which leaves Moran at something of crossroads, as he finds he has a difficult decision to make. Will he help his old friend in this time of need? Who is he and what could he have done to find himself this way? Can he ever get over being so disdained?
Most Secret
First brought out in 1945, this was later re-released through the the House of Stratus publishing label in 2002 on the 1st of July, as it was one of the titles written during the middle of his writing career. Featuring common themes of his once again, this is a must for anybody hoping to get to the heart of his material, as it contains all his big ideas, along with writing it at the peak of his career. With both its style and its tone, it has everything that his audience had now come to expect from his work, whilst also offering something new to keep people engaged too.
Set out in the ocean this time, this follows a small fishing boat packed with French fisherman and British army officers all packed together on the ‘Genevieve’ during the Second World War. With only a flamethrower and a small collection of arms, they plan about taking on the German army following the fall of France to the occupying forces. They then proceed to set about their dangerous commando mission despite the insurmountable and highly dangerous odds that are stacked against them. Will they be able to complete their mission? Can they stay alive long enough to do so? What will become of them as they conceal a mission that’s most secret?
Book Series In Order » Authors »
Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know!
You don’t mention a moment in time lovely book read it six times
Do you have the right author? I can’t seem to see any books by him with that name. If there is one could you link me to it
I am going thru book collections that our family has obtained over the years. And am working on Nevil Shute’s now. My uncle was in WW1 and had some connection with Shute. Something to do with Australia and airplanes, but my brother and just cannot remember what it was.
But we have almost every book he ever wrote, and plan on re-reading them now that we are old.
A wonderful author!
The 2 we dont have are “Stephen Morris” and “Vineland the Good”
I was sure that I read A town Like Alice in 3 parts, starting in Malaya. My uncle was an Oxford graduate, and I wonder if through the Oxford connection, he had obtained earlier versions of the eventual book. I always thought it was originally a trilogy. I find no record of it being a trilogy. I would have started reading it in 1952 at my uncle’s home. I was 14 and was thoroughly engrossed with all parts of the story.