The Breaking Wave

by Nevil Shute

Book Overview

The Breaking Wave is one of Nevil Shute's most poignant and psychologically suspenseful novels, set in the years just after World War II. Sidelined by a wartime injury, fighter pilot Alan Duncan... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345321731
• ISBN13: 9780345321732
• Release Date: December 1984
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.

Customer Reviews

CASUALTIES OF WAR

Nevil Shute's gentle and very clever way of telling a story really shines here. This one sneaks up on you as you slowly find yourself caught up in the emotions of the characters, all of whose lives have been forever shaped and scarred by their experiences in WWII. Masterfully told in partial flashback, the mystery of the suicide of a parlourmaid at an Australian sheep station turns out to have profound implications for everyone involved in her life. A deeply moving and haunting novel, Mr. Shute deftly shows us how "Like some infernal monster, still venemous in death, a war can go on killing people for a long time after it's all over." This is a stunning novel by a master storyteller. Highly recommended. NOTE: This is also published as 'Requiem For A Wren'

CASUALTIES OF WAR

Nevil Shute's gentle and very clever way of telling a story really shines here. This one sneaks up on you as you slowly find yourself caught up in the emotions of the characters, all of whose lives have been forever shaped and scarred by their experiences in WWII. Masterfully told in partial flashback, the mystery of the suicide of a parlourmaid at an Australian sheep station turns out to have profound implications for everyone involved in her life. A deeply moving and haunting novel, Mr. Shute deftly shows us how "Like some infernal monster, still venemous in death, a war can go on killing people for a long time after it's all over." This is a stunning novel by a master storyteller. Highly recommended. NOTE: This is also published as 'The Breaking Wave'

One of his best

I have recently discovered Nevil Shute, and what a find! I highly recommend this book. It's a story that takes place during WWII when a man returns home to australia to find that his parents' parlor maid has committed suicide. As he searches for her identity he reminisces about the war and the people he met.

Loved it!

I have just discovered Nevil Shute and I love his works. This book may start off a little slow in the first chapter (as all his seem to do) but it is an incredible story. I highly recommend it!

Great WWII love story set in Australia/ironic twists.

One of Nevil Shute's best stories, second only to Town Like Alice -his greatest book (and wonderful film!) Story is during and after WWII, with lots of good descriptions of the desolate center of Australia interlaced with a beautiful love story of two people trying to find each other. The two main characters are very likeable, you root for them - but there is a very unpexpected twist towards the end of the book. The "wren" is not a bird, but a Royal Naval Nurse. I have read this book 3 or 4 times over 25 years and I highly recommend it, although it is difficult to find outside of England. It is easy to read, and would be a good book to take on a vacation or plane trip Another good Nevil Shute book is "Trustee from a Toolroom" - guys would enjoy this one, gals would like "Requiem for a Wren".