William Heinemann 1st Edition
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"The Legacy was large...more money than Jean Paget had ever dreamed of possessing. There in the subdued light of the London law office - the solicitor's face a grey blur across the desk - she felt as if new horizons were suddenly opening up, lighting vistas on which she had resolutely turned her back. For this unexpected inheritance made possible the fulfillment of a dream... a dream that a young Australian soldier had put in her heart back in the jungles of Malaya when, as prisoners of war, they had talked in whispers in the menacing darkness. There, half way between her besieged England and his rugged Queensland hills, they had found a few brief hours of happiness together - a slender girl dressed like a native in a bright sarong, a mud-spattered man in frayed tropical shorts. And then he was gone. Now - with her unexpected inheritance - she was haunted by the memory of the man who had risked his life to help her... by a Malayan village that had befriended her in her need. And so Jean was drawn back to Malaya... and then beyond - to a vast, untamed land... Here is the story of love and vision... of two people working together in the birth of a new country. Nevil Shute has written this novel with all the emotional impact of Pastoral and with the warm humanity of Pied Piper. Illumined by the stirring appeal of men and women who dare to build where others are merely accepting defeat." |
| One of Nevil Shute's most beloved and popular novels, A Town Like Alice (printed in the U.S. under the title of The Legacy) was rated as the 17th best novel published in the English language since 1900, in a 1998 Modern Library poll of readers. |
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(1) The book's dust jacket cover must match the image shown at the left. (2) Unless the price has been removed by additional clipping after the original purchase, the dust jacket should show the resale price of 10s 6d on the lower right hand side of the inside front flap. (3) On the publication (copyright) page, the book must state "FIRST PUBLISHED 1950", with no additional printings or publications of that same edition indicated. (4) The book should show William Heinemann Ltd consistently as the publisher. (5) Book cover is in red cloth with gold print to the spine. |
| *The collecting tips on the The Nevil Shute Book Page website are only provided as a tool to assist in identifying the original publications of Nevil Shute titles. Several people have generously contributed information and images to enhance its appearance and accuracy, however, please keep in mind that this site will always be a work in progress and have the potential for error. Regardless of the author you collect, I would strongly recommend that consumers/collectors never rely solely on a single source for determining the value or status of their book, including this website. Always seek multiple reliable resources to evaluate your edition. |
