Neville Shute's 'Trustee from the Toolroom'

[rbgarr]

I just finished this warm and witty book. Recommend it highly to anyone who leads a quiet life in straightened circumstances and is interested in hobbies, engineering, voyaging, family or friends.

[Steve McMahon]

Agreed. I think I'll dig it out of my collection and read it again. I have been collecting Shute for 20+ years. I think I have everything he has written but am not sure.

[Ian McColgin]

A brilliant story. I don't know if they have the tape, but WGBH in Boston used to have 'Reading Aloud' by a charactor actor named Richard Cabness and his version of this book was perfect.

By the way, Shute was inspired after a tea with the Smeetons and Guzwell. Note that Guzwell's fameous boat is named 'Treasure.'

[ 01-05-2005, 07:40 AM: Message edited by: Ian McColgin ]

[skuthorp]

Also hav a much-treasured copy. Read a lot of him in the past, a good story teller. smile.gif

[uncas]

rbjarr!
Now that you have read one, try Shute's others...
There are close to 20 of them and all just as good.
jamj

[Stiletto]

I think I've read all except that one, I must look for it.

Is he still alive?

[preston]

Originally posted by Stiletto:
I think I've read all except that one, I must look for it.

Is he still alive?No, he died many years ago.
You might also look for "Slide Rule", his autobiography.

Preston

[John Kohnen]

Originally posted by Ian McColgin:
...

By the way, Shute was inspired after a tea with the Smeetons and Guzwell. Note that Guzwell's fameous boat is named 'Treasure.'John Guzzwell may have owned a boat named Treasure, but his famous boat (the little one he sailed 'round the world) was named Trekka.

I think my favorite Shute book is 'Round the Bend. It's about an aircraft mechanic who takes his work all too seriously -- to the extent of becoming a prophet of quality workmanship to the local mechanics of an airline operating in Asia. It's a good one for us gearheads. :D

I've read dozens of Nevil Shute's books, and thoroughly enjoyed almost all of them.

If you can't find Nevil Shute's books in your library, try looking under Nevil Shute Norway. He dropped his last name to make his nom de plume.

John

[uncas]

Try the LEGACY. A bit sad but the descriptions of the Aussie outback and those who live there are fantastic. Checkerboard isn't bad eother as he did not write a bad book as far as I know.
Thanks for the hint NORWAY....Did not know that.
jamj

[Ian McColgin]

John's right about which of Guzzwell's boats was the more fameous, but I really had in mind 'Treasure' due to the persistant legend about Guzwell's family relationship to some purely freemarket trading of South African mineral products.

[rbgarr]

The intro to my copy of 'Trustee...' said he dropped Norway from his name to protect his career as an engineer. :confused: