A Town Like AliceA Town Like Alice
Score Classic
What it's about
Nevil Shute's most beloved novel is a tale of love and war, following its enterprising heroine from the Malayan jungle during the Second World War to the rugged Australian outback.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the BBC's Big Read. It's a classic tale of love, war and determination.
You'll love it if you liked
On the Beach
Trustee From the Toolroom
Out of AfricaGood to know
Its wartime section is harrowing.
By the numbers
- Readers56 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller26 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Dark
More by Nevil Shute
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of ReposeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is A Town Like Alice worth reading?
Yes. It's on the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,963 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Town Like Alice about?
Nevil Shute's most beloved novel is a tale of love and war, following its enterprising heroine from the Malayan jungle during the Second World War to the rugged Australian outback.
How long does it take to read A Town Like Alice?
About 7 hours (284 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after A Town Like Alice?
If you liked it, try On the Beach by Nevil Shute, Trustee From the Toolroom by Nevil Shute or Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen.