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The Far Country
Jennifer fled the drab monotony of post-war London for Australia, and feels like she has come home. When she meets Carl, she has every reason to stay. But the two come from different worlds, and need work to build a life together in a pioneer country.
333 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1952
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1389 people want to read
About the author
Nevil Shute
99 books1,321 followersNevil Shute Norway was a popular British novelist and a successful aeronautical engineer.
He used Nevil Shute as his pen name, and his full name in his engineering career, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.
He lived in Australia for the ten years before his death.
He used Nevil Shute as his pen name, and his full name in his engineering career, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.
He lived in Australia for the ten years before his death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
June 13, 2019
This 1952 book by Nevil Shute (author of A Town Like Alice and On the Beach) contrasts the bleakness of post-war London and Great Britain, especially the ongoing food rationing and general lack of prosperity, with the bright, roomy country of Australia, where massive meals are the order of the day, everyone (almost) has financial security, and the landscape is awe-inspiring.
Merrijig, Australia
Against that backdrop, we have the adventures and romance between Jennifer Morton, a British young woman visiting her relatives in Australia and deciding whether to make her life there, and Carl Zlinter, a Czech doctor who's working as a lumberman in Australia and loves the country ... even though he's not (because of laws) allowed to practice medicine there. But in the lumber camps there's often a need for first aid, and people turn a blind eye when he performs minor surgeries. And then one day there's a major accident ...
The story begins with some scenes from the life of Jack and Jane Dorman, a couple in their 50s who moved to Australia many years ago. Jane, a British woman from an upper class family, married Jack years ago against her parents' wishes.
Carl is an unusual character for the love interest, with a thick accent and a somewhat timid manner with Jennifer. He's a good guy and a talented surgeon, though, and I ended up really liking him. Ethel was a distinctive character as well, a relic of a bygone era with pride and a deep wish not to be a burden or charity case. Compared to these two, Jennifer is somewhat less memorable, though appealing; a plucky British young woman.
Nevil Shute has a lot to say about the relative merits of post-war England vs. Australia, and it's clear on which side of the fence he stands. I don't know how accurate his portrayal of these countries in the early fifties is, but he does draw Australia as kind of the Promised Land, a place of great opportunity for people both rich and poor. There were a lot of European refugees who emigrated to Australia in the aftermath of WWII, called the "New Australians," and this book talks quite a bit about the Australian immigration program and the work requirements for immigrants. Interesting stuff. Shute's views on colonialism are dated, though that's understandable for a book that's nearly 70 years old.
The Far Country isn't as memorable as A Town Like Alice, one of my favorite comfort reads, and the ending left too many loose threads for my taste. I really wanted an epilogue or a few more chapters! But I enjoyed it and downed the whole thing in one evening.
June 2019 buddy read with the Retro Reads group.
Merrijig, Australia
Against that backdrop, we have the adventures and romance between Jennifer Morton, a British young woman visiting her relatives in Australia and deciding whether to make her life there, and Carl Zlinter, a Czech doctor who's working as a lumberman in Australia and loves the country ... even though he's not (because of laws) allowed to practice medicine there. But in the lumber camps there's often a need for first aid, and people turn a blind eye when he performs minor surgeries. And then one day there's a major accident ...
The story begins with some scenes from the life of Jack and Jane Dorman, a couple in their 50s who moved to Australia many years ago. Jane, a British woman from an upper class family, married Jack years ago against her parents' wishes.
She was too young, too immature to be able to stand up and state her conviction that there was solid stuff in this young man, the substance for a happy and enduring marriage; she felt that very strongly, but she could never get it out in words.Jane's Aunt Ethel was her sole supporter. Now, after many years of financial struggles on their Australian sheep ranch, Jack and Jane finally are making a lot of money. Jane, reading between the lines of Ethel's latest letters, gets worried and decides to send Aunt Ethel a gift of ₤500. Meanwhile, back in Great Britain, Ethel's granddaughter Jennifer gets an emergency call about Ethel, and rushes to her home.
Carl is an unusual character for the love interest, with a thick accent and a somewhat timid manner with Jennifer. He's a good guy and a talented surgeon, though, and I ended up really liking him. Ethel was a distinctive character as well, a relic of a bygone era with pride and a deep wish not to be a burden or charity case. Compared to these two, Jennifer is somewhat less memorable, though appealing; a plucky British young woman.
Nevil Shute has a lot to say about the relative merits of post-war England vs. Australia, and it's clear on which side of the fence he stands. I don't know how accurate his portrayal of these countries in the early fifties is, but he does draw Australia as kind of the Promised Land, a place of great opportunity for people both rich and poor. There were a lot of European refugees who emigrated to Australia in the aftermath of WWII, called the "New Australians," and this book talks quite a bit about the Australian immigration program and the work requirements for immigrants. Interesting stuff. Shute's views on colonialism are dated, though that's understandable for a book that's nearly 70 years old.
The Far Country isn't as memorable as A Town Like Alice, one of my favorite comfort reads, and the ending left too many loose threads for my taste. I really wanted an epilogue or a few more chapters! But I enjoyed it and downed the whole thing in one evening.
June 2019 buddy read with the Retro Reads group.
June 20, 2021
The Far Country was written in 1950, the same year that Nevil Shute emigrated to Australia. This story had me thoroughly engaged from beginning to end. It’s an uplifting and charming love story set in rural Victoria. The striking beauty of the landscape is described throughout the novel. These descriptions made me want to hop on a plane to see Australia ASAP.
Very important to the novel are the contrasts between England and Australia. The former was still dealing with post-WWII hardships. There are food and other shortages as well as heavy taxes. In contrast is Australia, the beautiful land of plenty. Over and over we are shown the wealth, the abundance of food and well-paying jobs. More important for some European emigrants, Austraila is far away from the war they just survived and any future wars. For the first time in many years these emigrants feel safe and secure.
It is generally known that convicts originally settled Australia. This story captures the period after the Second World War when many European refugees emigrated to Australia. In exchange for free passage they worked for two years. Then they were free in a land where labor was in high demand and food was plentiful. Through several characters this history is brought to life.
This is a lovely story with highly engaging and likable characters as well as a look at an interesting piece of WWII history. Before reading this book I'd never read a thing about the lives of post-WWII emigrants to Australia. Highly recommended.
Very important to the novel are the contrasts between England and Australia. The former was still dealing with post-WWII hardships. There are food and other shortages as well as heavy taxes. In contrast is Australia, the beautiful land of plenty. Over and over we are shown the wealth, the abundance of food and well-paying jobs. More important for some European emigrants, Austraila is far away from the war they just survived and any future wars. For the first time in many years these emigrants feel safe and secure.
It is generally known that convicts originally settled Australia. This story captures the period after the Second World War when many European refugees emigrated to Australia. In exchange for free passage they worked for two years. Then they were free in a land where labor was in high demand and food was plentiful. Through several characters this history is brought to life.
This is a lovely story with highly engaging and likable characters as well as a look at an interesting piece of WWII history. Before reading this book I'd never read a thing about the lives of post-WWII emigrants to Australia. Highly recommended.
June 16, 2019
4.5★
Back in the day, I read a few of Shute's novels. I don't remember any of them clearly, but I know I enjoyed them at the time.
This one is no exception!
Shute (an immigrant to Australia himself) explores some very interesting themes - "New Australians", the waste of qualified people working in unskilled jobs because their qualifications aren't recognised in their new country (although fairly recent events in many countries have proved it is a good idea to have very stringent checks to make sure that the qualifications mean what they say!) Australians thinking the grass might be greener on the British side of the fence and having a yearning for what many of them still think of as "home."
A glancing reference to Jenny not being able to drink in a public bar had me curious. Warning: I am going to ramble. My cover of The Far Country shows Sigrid Thornton in her role as Jenny* (& looking nothing like Shute's description of Jenny)
Thornton's mother Merle was a well known feminist who chained herself to a bar in Queensland in 1967 in protest at this discrimination in 1967 This law was repealed in 1970. Similar discriminatory practices did exist in New Zealand as well.
The poverty in the Britain of the 1950s compared to the land of plenty in Australia was also a theme. Shute himself must have found it wonderful to move to such a well endowed land.
I knocked half a star off my rating because there were a few loose ends. Excellent foreshadowing allowed us to predict one important character's likely fate, but I found the glancing reference to Certainly the ending feels a bit rushed.
*Variable reviews on IMDb, but it sounds like the film doesn't have much resemblance to Shute's book.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091034/...
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
Back in the day, I read a few of Shute's novels. I don't remember any of them clearly, but I know I enjoyed them at the time.
This one is no exception!
Shute (an immigrant to Australia himself) explores some very interesting themes - "New Australians", the waste of qualified people working in unskilled jobs because their qualifications aren't recognised in their new country (although fairly recent events in many countries have proved it is a good idea to have very stringent checks to make sure that the qualifications mean what they say!) Australians thinking the grass might be greener on the British side of the fence and having a yearning for what many of them still think of as "home."
A glancing reference to Jenny not being able to drink in a public bar had me curious. Warning: I am going to ramble. My cover of The Far Country shows Sigrid Thornton in her role as Jenny* (& looking nothing like Shute's description of Jenny)
Thornton's mother Merle was a well known feminist who chained herself to a bar in Queensland in 1967 in protest at this discrimination in 1967 This law was repealed in 1970. Similar discriminatory practices did exist in New Zealand as well.The poverty in the Britain of the 1950s compared to the land of plenty in Australia was also a theme. Shute himself must have found it wonderful to move to such a well endowed land.
I knocked half a star off my rating because there were a few loose ends. Excellent foreshadowing allowed us to predict one important character's likely fate, but I found the glancing reference to Certainly the ending feels a bit rushed.
*Variable reviews on IMDb, but it sounds like the film doesn't have much resemblance to Shute's book.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091034/...
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
July 22, 2022
4.5 Stars.
World War Two has ended, but rations are still on in England, and life in Europe seems to have no opportunities left, particularly for the young. Jennifer Morton is one of those young Londoners, working away at a job that has no future and a life that seems unpromising, but a twist of fate provides her with an opportunity to visit Australia, and everything in her life changes.
Carl Zlinter is a Czechoslovakian doctor who emigrated to Australia after the war. As an immigrant, he is not allowed to practice medicine in his new country, and he must work a two-year stint as a laborer with a logging concern. He isn’t allowed to practice, but his skills as a doctor are much needed in the remote area in which he is working, so his fellow workers come to know him as a man who can be called on when first aid is needed.
Jenny and Carl meet, but as might be expected, the situation is not ideal, nor is it easy to imagine what future they might have together, given the circumstances they are in. Just the kind of love story that Nevil Shute is so very good at writing!
I was caught up in this tale from beginning to end. It is obvious that Shute, himself a new Australian, was enamored of his adopted land and distressed at the direction he felt his home country of England was taking. This is Australia the way I would have imagined it at this time, and I’m sure it was a land of plenty and a land of opportunity after the ravages of a World War. The descriptions of both the land and its people are part of what pulls you into the novel immediately. The contrasts he draws between Australia and England make it all the more enticing.
Another down in my quest to read all of Shute’s novels. This one earns a thumbs up.
World War Two has ended, but rations are still on in England, and life in Europe seems to have no opportunities left, particularly for the young. Jennifer Morton is one of those young Londoners, working away at a job that has no future and a life that seems unpromising, but a twist of fate provides her with an opportunity to visit Australia, and everything in her life changes.
Carl Zlinter is a Czechoslovakian doctor who emigrated to Australia after the war. As an immigrant, he is not allowed to practice medicine in his new country, and he must work a two-year stint as a laborer with a logging concern. He isn’t allowed to practice, but his skills as a doctor are much needed in the remote area in which he is working, so his fellow workers come to know him as a man who can be called on when first aid is needed.
Jenny and Carl meet, but as might be expected, the situation is not ideal, nor is it easy to imagine what future they might have together, given the circumstances they are in. Just the kind of love story that Nevil Shute is so very good at writing!
I was caught up in this tale from beginning to end. It is obvious that Shute, himself a new Australian, was enamored of his adopted land and distressed at the direction he felt his home country of England was taking. This is Australia the way I would have imagined it at this time, and I’m sure it was a land of plenty and a land of opportunity after the ravages of a World War. The descriptions of both the land and its people are part of what pulls you into the novel immediately. The contrasts he draws between Australia and England make it all the more enticing.
Another down in my quest to read all of Shute’s novels. This one earns a thumbs up.
March 8, 2014
I have yet to read a book by Nevil Shute novel that will not let his generosity and kindness, his understated, amiable nature shine through and illuminate the saddest and depressing themes. The Far Country is no exception. It is a delicate and touching love story between two young, lonely souls, but the background and inspiration for the novel is anchored in what is probably the most difficult decision the writer had to take in his life: to abandon his own homeland and immigrate to the far side of the world. The inclusion of autobiographical elements in Nevil Shute novels only serves to increase the sense of authenticity and sincerity that make me come back to Nevil Shute novels on a regular basis. On my second or third re-read, this present novel has lost none of its initial appeal. If anything, it has gained poignancy, as I find myself contemplating living for years outside my own country on an expat contract.
The year is 1950, the second World War is officially over, but the hardships, the food shortages, the heavy taxes and the political upheavals still grip England and most of Europe in their iron fists. The most vulnerable are the very young and the very old. 24 years old office clerk Jennifer Morton is called to the bedside of her elderly grandmother Ethel Trehearn, a former society girl who is now dying of malnutrition because she was too proud and discrete to call for social assistance when her Indian widow pension got canceled. The old lady reminisces at length on the prosperity and social graces of her Victorian country heiress lifestyle, unable to adapt to the changing environment around her.
There's no place for old ladies in the brave new world.
Mr. Shute lets go with all guns against the evils of the new socialist government and the woes of the improvised National Health Service. His perspective leans mostly towards conservative, elitist values, not surprisingly given his own background as an upper middle-class engineer, but with his signature equanimity, he does present counter arguments and opinions from the leftist movement and enough context to paint a balanced picture.
In each year of the peace food had got shorter, more and more expensive, and taxation has risen higher and higher. He was now living on a lower scale than in the war-time years; the decline had gone on steadily, if anything increasing in momentum, and there seemed no end to it. Where would it all end, and what lay ahead of the young people of today in England?
Jennifer's father urges her to go visit a distant relation in Australia with the money that came too late to save her ailing grandmother. Jane Dorman has immigrated herself from England against the opposition of her family toawards her marrying dashing and unconventional Australian lieutenant in 1918. After long years of hard work and money troubles, Jack and Jane Dorman are finally able to pay off the loan for their wool station (big sheep farm in Australian lingo) and turn a profit due to the increase in wool prices. Even after high government taxes they are still left with enough money for small luxuries like new cars, holidays in Melbourne, house appliances and guests from the homeland. Regarding Australia, Nevil Shute's portrait may seem slightly exagerrated in its rosy tint of a land of marvelous landscapes, easy prosperity and limitless chances for the intreprid man, but as a literary tool deployed to contrast the bleak English situation, it serves its role remarcably well. Sweeping vistas of eucalyptus forests (called gum tress in the novel), clear rivers filled with trout, uninhabited miles after miles of pastureland, brilliant birds and novel beasts like koala bears and wallabies, stress free and hospitable locals - these are the ingredients that greet Jennifer on her arrival to the continent.
Although we start the journey learning about sheep farming , soon enough the focus moves to the lumbering camps in the neighboring mountains, where New Australians, as the displaced persons who lost their homes and even countries in the war are called, work their two year indenture as payment for being allowed into the country from the crowded camps in Europe. One of them is Carl Zlinter, a Czech doctor who is put to cut timber as his diploma is not recognized in the new country. His perspective adds another layer to the immigrant song, one of the many decent people that was uprooted from his home soil, thrown into the iron maws of the army and left abandoned after peace in a refugee camp. Australia means for him stability and security, away from a crowded Europe where borders are redrawn every decade or so.
Since I was a young man there has been this threat of war; or war itself, and death, and marching, and defeat, and camps of homeless people, and the threat of war again, and of more marching, of more death, of more parting from one's home - unending; here is a country where a man can built a home without the feeling that all will be useless and destroyed next year.
Jennifer and Carl meet under strenuous circumstances, as she assists the doctor in an unauthorized couple of operations after a work accident in the forest. The set-up allows Nevil Shute to showcase the other side of his character: the technical specialist who can express himself concisely and clearly on professional themes, in this case work safety and medical emergency interventions.
The last major story arc puts Jennifer and Carl in improvised sleuth roles, as they try to elucidate the mystery of a tombstone in Howqua -a ghost town from the Australian gold rush era (about the end of the 19th century) that was completely destroyed in a forest fire. The stone bears the same name as Carl, and it may be one of his ancestors. The investigation brings the two lovers closer together, yet their romance is hampered by troubles with Jennifer's family back in England and by Carl's lack of medical license and lack of funds to pursue a decent profession.
I particularly liked their restrained and hesitant steps towards each other, the care they take of each other's feelings and the practical concerns of starting a family in a completely new environment. She's got her head screwed on right! is the highest praise one of the characters uses to describe Jennifer, and I wholly agree with his estimation.
The novel should appeal to romantic oriented souls, but also to readers interested in the historical context of post-war reconstruction.
The year is 1950, the second World War is officially over, but the hardships, the food shortages, the heavy taxes and the political upheavals still grip England and most of Europe in their iron fists. The most vulnerable are the very young and the very old. 24 years old office clerk Jennifer Morton is called to the bedside of her elderly grandmother Ethel Trehearn, a former society girl who is now dying of malnutrition because she was too proud and discrete to call for social assistance when her Indian widow pension got canceled. The old lady reminisces at length on the prosperity and social graces of her Victorian country heiress lifestyle, unable to adapt to the changing environment around her.
There's no place for old ladies in the brave new world.
Mr. Shute lets go with all guns against the evils of the new socialist government and the woes of the improvised National Health Service. His perspective leans mostly towards conservative, elitist values, not surprisingly given his own background as an upper middle-class engineer, but with his signature equanimity, he does present counter arguments and opinions from the leftist movement and enough context to paint a balanced picture.
In each year of the peace food had got shorter, more and more expensive, and taxation has risen higher and higher. He was now living on a lower scale than in the war-time years; the decline had gone on steadily, if anything increasing in momentum, and there seemed no end to it. Where would it all end, and what lay ahead of the young people of today in England?
Jennifer's father urges her to go visit a distant relation in Australia with the money that came too late to save her ailing grandmother. Jane Dorman has immigrated herself from England against the opposition of her family toawards her marrying dashing and unconventional Australian lieutenant in 1918. After long years of hard work and money troubles, Jack and Jane Dorman are finally able to pay off the loan for their wool station (big sheep farm in Australian lingo) and turn a profit due to the increase in wool prices. Even after high government taxes they are still left with enough money for small luxuries like new cars, holidays in Melbourne, house appliances and guests from the homeland. Regarding Australia, Nevil Shute's portrait may seem slightly exagerrated in its rosy tint of a land of marvelous landscapes, easy prosperity and limitless chances for the intreprid man, but as a literary tool deployed to contrast the bleak English situation, it serves its role remarcably well. Sweeping vistas of eucalyptus forests (called gum tress in the novel), clear rivers filled with trout, uninhabited miles after miles of pastureland, brilliant birds and novel beasts like koala bears and wallabies, stress free and hospitable locals - these are the ingredients that greet Jennifer on her arrival to the continent.
Although we start the journey learning about sheep farming , soon enough the focus moves to the lumbering camps in the neighboring mountains, where New Australians, as the displaced persons who lost their homes and even countries in the war are called, work their two year indenture as payment for being allowed into the country from the crowded camps in Europe. One of them is Carl Zlinter, a Czech doctor who is put to cut timber as his diploma is not recognized in the new country. His perspective adds another layer to the immigrant song, one of the many decent people that was uprooted from his home soil, thrown into the iron maws of the army and left abandoned after peace in a refugee camp. Australia means for him stability and security, away from a crowded Europe where borders are redrawn every decade or so.
Since I was a young man there has been this threat of war; or war itself, and death, and marching, and defeat, and camps of homeless people, and the threat of war again, and of more marching, of more death, of more parting from one's home - unending; here is a country where a man can built a home without the feeling that all will be useless and destroyed next year.
Jennifer and Carl meet under strenuous circumstances, as she assists the doctor in an unauthorized couple of operations after a work accident in the forest. The set-up allows Nevil Shute to showcase the other side of his character: the technical specialist who can express himself concisely and clearly on professional themes, in this case work safety and medical emergency interventions.
The last major story arc puts Jennifer and Carl in improvised sleuth roles, as they try to elucidate the mystery of a tombstone in Howqua -a ghost town from the Australian gold rush era (about the end of the 19th century) that was completely destroyed in a forest fire. The stone bears the same name as Carl, and it may be one of his ancestors. The investigation brings the two lovers closer together, yet their romance is hampered by troubles with Jennifer's family back in England and by Carl's lack of medical license and lack of funds to pursue a decent profession.
I particularly liked their restrained and hesitant steps towards each other, the care they take of each other's feelings and the practical concerns of starting a family in a completely new environment. She's got her head screwed on right! is the highest praise one of the characters uses to describe Jennifer, and I wholly agree with his estimation.
The novel should appeal to romantic oriented souls, but also to readers interested in the historical context of post-war reconstruction.
August 4, 2019
4 🐑 🐑 🐑 🐑
This story is almost 70 years old and was selected because of a group challenge to read a book published in 1952. I was hesitant. The cheesy romantic cover on my edition
with the challenging font and dog-eared pages was not enticing. Really, I thought I would be woolgathering for days.
Not so! It was delightful reading and interesting on a number of levels.
With all the WWII I’ve read this must be the first detailing the struggles of living in a post war, economically devastated England. Who knew the former penal colony of Australia would be at that time considered the new promised land of plenty for many Europeans (writes this American who is the by-product of similar immigrants and was under the impression they all came to the USA).
The descriptions of the raw country are gorgeous and the general story and plot very engaging. Though a bit dated it wasn’t an issue. Like good music it holds up after all these years.
Crikey, Nevil Shute pulled the wool over my eyes and don’t we readers love when that happens. He himself left England and became one of the new Australians who fell in love with the down under-ness of it all.
I buzzed through it in 3 days like a champion sheep shearer.
This story is almost 70 years old and was selected because of a group challenge to read a book published in 1952. I was hesitant. The cheesy romantic cover on my edition
with the challenging font and dog-eared pages was not enticing. Really, I thought I would be woolgathering for days.
Not so! It was delightful reading and interesting on a number of levels.
With all the WWII I’ve read this must be the first detailing the struggles of living in a post war, economically devastated England. Who knew the former penal colony of Australia would be at that time considered the new promised land of plenty for many Europeans (writes this American who is the by-product of similar immigrants and was under the impression they all came to the USA).
The descriptions of the raw country are gorgeous and the general story and plot very engaging. Though a bit dated it wasn’t an issue. Like good music it holds up after all these years.
Crikey, Nevil Shute pulled the wool over my eyes and don’t we readers love when that happens. He himself left England and became one of the new Australians who fell in love with the down under-ness of it all.
I buzzed through it in 3 days like a champion sheep shearer.
March 27, 2019
This is a simple story that focuses upon characters who have a strong sense of social integrity. The story is uplifting and a joy to read.
The setting is London and rural Victoria, Australia, in 1950. Nevil Shute is speaking out against the situation in Britain post World War Two, and he is poking a critical finger at British health care. It is of importance to note that Shute emigrated from Britain to Australia in this year.
The story follows twenty-four-year-old Jenny Morton. She inherits a sum of money from her grandmother. Years ago, Jenny’s grandmother had been the only one to encourage and give psychological support to a niece who emigrated to Australia. The tables have turned and now the grandmother is dying of malnutrition in England, while her niece and her husband in Australia after years of hard work on a sheep farm have paid off their debts, are solvent and happy. The high prices paid for wool after the war has resulted in large financial gain. The Australian couple send money to Jennifer’s grandmother, who when she dies gives it to Jenny. Jenny travels to Melbourne with plans to get a short term job as a secretarial clerk. This is the beginning of the story. She is there for a month. Watch and see what happens.
Nevil Shute makes a case for the striking beauty of rural Victorian landscape—the sheep farming, cattle grazing and rolling hills. The flora and fauna are described in both an interesting and captivating manner. This book made me want to see the land with my own eyes.
All of us have read about the convicts that originally settled Australia. Here is a story that captures a different epoque—the period after the Second World War when many European refugees emigrated to Australia. In exchange for free passage to the land they worked for two years. Then they were free in a land where labor was in high demand and food was plentiful. The discovery of gold at the beginning of the century and its attraction to immigrants also plays in. Through fictional characters Australian history is drawn.
I like this story for its very simplicity and for its characters. There is an artist. There is a doctor. I like how these and other characters think, what they prioritize and what they value. I like the choices they make. It was comfortable and nice spending time with them. This is a quiet book, but it Is not necessary to yell and scream to make a point. This is my favorite book by the author.
The audiobook is narrated by Julie Maisey. The narration performance I have given five stars. There are characters with many different accents. She does all of them extremely well—Australian, British, Irish and a Czech doctor. I love the intonations she uses for the many immigrants. I could understand every word spoken and the speed is perfect.
******************
The Far Country 4 stars
Trustee from the Toolroom 3 stars
Pied Piper 3 stars
Requiem for a Wren TBR
A Town Like Alice TBR
The setting is London and rural Victoria, Australia, in 1950. Nevil Shute is speaking out against the situation in Britain post World War Two, and he is poking a critical finger at British health care. It is of importance to note that Shute emigrated from Britain to Australia in this year.
The story follows twenty-four-year-old Jenny Morton. She inherits a sum of money from her grandmother. Years ago, Jenny’s grandmother had been the only one to encourage and give psychological support to a niece who emigrated to Australia. The tables have turned and now the grandmother is dying of malnutrition in England, while her niece and her husband in Australia after years of hard work on a sheep farm have paid off their debts, are solvent and happy. The high prices paid for wool after the war has resulted in large financial gain. The Australian couple send money to Jennifer’s grandmother, who when she dies gives it to Jenny. Jenny travels to Melbourne with plans to get a short term job as a secretarial clerk. This is the beginning of the story. She is there for a month. Watch and see what happens.
Nevil Shute makes a case for the striking beauty of rural Victorian landscape—the sheep farming, cattle grazing and rolling hills. The flora and fauna are described in both an interesting and captivating manner. This book made me want to see the land with my own eyes.
All of us have read about the convicts that originally settled Australia. Here is a story that captures a different epoque—the period after the Second World War when many European refugees emigrated to Australia. In exchange for free passage to the land they worked for two years. Then they were free in a land where labor was in high demand and food was plentiful. The discovery of gold at the beginning of the century and its attraction to immigrants also plays in. Through fictional characters Australian history is drawn.
I like this story for its very simplicity and for its characters. There is an artist. There is a doctor. I like how these and other characters think, what they prioritize and what they value. I like the choices they make. It was comfortable and nice spending time with them. This is a quiet book, but it Is not necessary to yell and scream to make a point. This is my favorite book by the author.
The audiobook is narrated by Julie Maisey. The narration performance I have given five stars. There are characters with many different accents. She does all of them extremely well—Australian, British, Irish and a Czech doctor. I love the intonations she uses for the many immigrants. I could understand every word spoken and the speed is perfect.
******************
The Far Country 4 stars
Trustee from the Toolroom 3 stars
Pied Piper 3 stars
Requiem for a Wren TBR
A Town Like Alice TBR
December 9, 2008
I LOVE this author! He is an excellent story teller that manages to tell a wonderfully engaging tale without any vile language and sex. This story revolves around a young British girl in the early days after World War II when times are hard and changing in Britain. This is full of excellent discussions, from a completely British perspective, on the social and political changes after the country was left devastated by 2 world wars.
This is a wonderful story that I have found myself returning to and quoting over and over again. The protagonist's father was a doctor and the perspective of this generation watching what happened to both doctors and patients as the country moved to socialized medicine is very enlightening. Our current politicians as well as populace could learn much from history as well as the discussions here.
This is a wonderful story that I have found myself returning to and quoting over and over again. The protagonist's father was a doctor and the perspective of this generation watching what happened to both doctors and patients as the country moved to socialized medicine is very enlightening. Our current politicians as well as populace could learn much from history as well as the discussions here.
May 23, 2015
I’ve been planning on reading this for a couple of years, but somehow something else always takes its place! And when I finally picked it up from the library, I foolishly almost judged it by its cover - well, that and its font style and size, which looked a little old-fashioned, boring and uninspiring. But it really is a good story. It started slowly, but it picked up through the second chapter and after that it was very easy to read.
The author’s descriptions of the Australian countryside are beautiful and paint a picture. The plot was interesting and plausible, the characters likeable.
This is my second Nevil Shute and I look forward to reading more of his work.
The author’s descriptions of the Australian countryside are beautiful and paint a picture. The plot was interesting and plausible, the characters likeable.
This is my second Nevil Shute and I look forward to reading more of his work.
February 22, 2022
Jennifer Morton is living in England in 1950. She and her family are still experiencing the difficult conditions that occurred after WWII. Carl Zlinter is a displaced person, who has emigrated from Czechoslovakia to rural Victoria, Australia, where he must work for two years in a lumber camp in exchange for his passage. He is not allowed to practice medicine, though there is an immense need for doctors in the remote countryside. When Jennifer visits her relatives in Australia, the two meet, confront a crisis together, develop a relationship, and encounter obstacles to remaining together.
The descriptions of the Australian “far country” are beautifully rendered. There is a stark contrast between life in England and life in Australia. England is still recovering from the war, while Australia has become a prosperous land of opportunity. However, the “new Australians” are unable to contribute in their fields of expertise. This is shown via a talented artist and the doctor working in the lumber camps. The law states that the doctor must attend three years of training in Australia, and, of course, a displaced person is unlikely to be able to afford such retraining.
At the heart of this story is a romance, but it is not syrupy or melodramatic. It contains social commentary, but not in an overpowering manner. There is a rather long lead-in to the main thrust of the storyline, but once it reaches Australia, it shines. The main characters are likeable and believable. It is always a compliment to say I wish it were longer.
The descriptions of the Australian “far country” are beautifully rendered. There is a stark contrast between life in England and life in Australia. England is still recovering from the war, while Australia has become a prosperous land of opportunity. However, the “new Australians” are unable to contribute in their fields of expertise. This is shown via a talented artist and the doctor working in the lumber camps. The law states that the doctor must attend three years of training in Australia, and, of course, a displaced person is unlikely to be able to afford such retraining.
At the heart of this story is a romance, but it is not syrupy or melodramatic. It contains social commentary, but not in an overpowering manner. There is a rather long lead-in to the main thrust of the storyline, but once it reaches Australia, it shines. The main characters are likeable and believable. It is always a compliment to say I wish it were longer.
March 24, 2016
In its way, it's a relatively simple story, but I love Shute's style. He tells a story gently, lovingly and at the same time, matter of factly (Is that a proper word? :0)). At its core it's a love story, but it represents its time as well. Set after WWII, England is struggling to feed its people, life is hard; whereas in counterpoint, in Australia, the frontier so to speak, life is pretty good, wool prices are high, money is good, there is work available. Helen goes to England at the request of her auntie, who thinks Australia might represent England more from her time in the early 1900s. Helen visits with an Aunt and her family, meets Carl, a Czech doctor, who works in the forest as a lumberman (as a Displaced Person from the war) he must work where the Australians let him for 2 years as a sort of payment for being allowed to live in Australia. He can then work towards getting his Doctor's certificate. The two meet under very interesting circumstances, a friendship/ relationship develops. This is the simple story, but there is so much more. Shute doesn't get involved in the politics of the time, other than in the background as it affects peoples' lives, but he does present an excellent picture of the time, contrasting life in England and Australia very nicely and very simply. It's a lovely story, not one I would have picked earlier in my life I don't think, but the more I read Nevil Shute's stories (two of my all-time favourites are his, On the Beach and Pied Piper) the more I enjoy his writing and the more of his books I want to read. Highly recommended.
June 29, 2024
Lo scrittore britannico Nevil Shute [1899-1960] ha scritto un pugno di bei romanzi ambientati per lo più in Australia e alcuni di questi come “Una Città come Alice” del 1950 e “Le Due Frontiere” del 1957 sono stati da me molto graditi; anche questo “Il Paese Lontano” del 1952 che ho appena terminato di leggere è stata una lettura piacevole e mi rammarico di non poter leggere altri suoi romanzi perché da anni le sue opere non vengono più ristampate nel nostro paese: il romanzo racconta di Jennifer, una giovane inglese che giunge in Australia nei primi anni dopo la fine della II Guerra Mondiale lasciando un’ Inghilterra impoverita dalla lunga guerra e costretta al razionamento alimentare per trovarsi in un mondo nuovo dove gli strascichi del conflitto sono il continuo afflusso di emigranti dall’Europa in cerca di una nuova patria e di nuove possibilità personali e professionali perché gli ingranaggi industriali e i grandi ranch operosi hanno permesso a questa nazione di scuotersi rapidamente dall’impasse. In questo contesto la giovane Jennifer giunta solo per un viaggio di piacere, ospite di lontani parenti residenti nel “Nuovo Mondo”, si affezionerà presto a questi luoghi al punto da tornare a casa con grande dispiacere. Romanzo affascinante scritto con grande abilità introspettiva e psicologica “Il Paese Lontano” conquista fin dalle prime pagine e non “ti molla più”.
July 3, 2019
More wandering around the world by author Nevil Shute. This time to Australia. There must have been a lot of his own feelings in this novel about his reasons for leaving England for Australia, which he did in 1950. He paints an interesting picture of life in Australia for new arrivals of Brits.
After a few opening scenes in Australia, the theme begins in England with, Jennifer Morton, the daughter of a doctor visiting her grandmother and finding her in dire straits. The old women is poverty stricken, hungry and emaciated. Due to the government-run healthcare system being poorly run and low on funds, she cannot get admitted to hospital.
Through luck and good intentions by the Australian part of the family, Jennifer ends up taking a cruise to see them on the other side of the world. She is thoroughly impressed with that country, and after meeting an interesting immigrant who had served in the war with the German Army as a doctor, she wants to stay there.
Due to unforeseen events Jennifer’s world is turned upside down and all her dreams are ruined. In usual Shute style, there instances of fantasy and coincidence, enriching the tale.
In The Far Country, Shute slams the Socialist system in Britain and failing government healthcare system. Shute’s criticism ruffled a few feathers in Britain and he was accused of being disloyal. I think Nevil Shute loved England all his life, especially the British people. In truth, Nevil Shute was a great patriot who loved Britain and the Empire where, with work, all people could prosper. It was the political system he abhorred. One senses bitterness in his narrative. ‘Will Britain ever be great again?’ he seems to ask.
He also talks about how people were not eating well in Britain and how food was rationed. I remember the old rationing books myself. Labour Party Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, was hailed as a genius in managing Britain’s post war economy. Shute might have argued that England would have prospered sooner under a free market Capitalist system.
In describing Jennifer, he says: "She had been brought up in the belief that money spent by the rich came out of the pockets of the poor, and she had never seriously questioned that. But in Australia, it seemed, there were very few poor people, if any."
I like how NS describes Jennifer going to London before leaving for Australia and her turmoil over leaving that fabulous city before boarding the ship. I had similar feelings myself before leaving many years ago.
After a few opening scenes in Australia, the theme begins in England with, Jennifer Morton, the daughter of a doctor visiting her grandmother and finding her in dire straits. The old women is poverty stricken, hungry and emaciated. Due to the government-run healthcare system being poorly run and low on funds, she cannot get admitted to hospital.
Through luck and good intentions by the Australian part of the family, Jennifer ends up taking a cruise to see them on the other side of the world. She is thoroughly impressed with that country, and after meeting an interesting immigrant who had served in the war with the German Army as a doctor, she wants to stay there.
Due to unforeseen events Jennifer’s world is turned upside down and all her dreams are ruined. In usual Shute style, there instances of fantasy and coincidence, enriching the tale.
In The Far Country, Shute slams the Socialist system in Britain and failing government healthcare system. Shute’s criticism ruffled a few feathers in Britain and he was accused of being disloyal. I think Nevil Shute loved England all his life, especially the British people. In truth, Nevil Shute was a great patriot who loved Britain and the Empire where, with work, all people could prosper. It was the political system he abhorred. One senses bitterness in his narrative. ‘Will Britain ever be great again?’ he seems to ask.
He also talks about how people were not eating well in Britain and how food was rationed. I remember the old rationing books myself. Labour Party Prime Minister, Clement Attlee, was hailed as a genius in managing Britain’s post war economy. Shute might have argued that England would have prospered sooner under a free market Capitalist system.
In describing Jennifer, he says: "She had been brought up in the belief that money spent by the rich came out of the pockets of the poor, and she had never seriously questioned that. But in Australia, it seemed, there were very few poor people, if any."
I like how NS describes Jennifer going to London before leaving for Australia and her turmoil over leaving that fabulous city before boarding the ship. I had similar feelings myself before leaving many years ago.
February 28, 2023
Another Nevil Shute winner-loved the characters, story, and setting!
December 5, 2010
In "Far Country," Shute creates a love story of warmth, realism, and charming inevitability. What I love about a Nevil Shute novel is the absolutely unsentimental way in which it relates a seemingly sentimental tale. In Nevil Shute's world, you can have a man and a woman and a buzzing, unraveling story of their developing affections (what would normally be a recipe for a sentimental disaster), but never once does it ooze "cheese factor" or an over-the-top pomposity. Instead, you find yourself routing for two resourceful, strong, and likable people across difficult circumstances.
This is definitely the case in "Far Country," as Jennifer Morton (an English girl who travels to Australia from a post WW II, depressed and food-rationing England at her late grandmother's insistence) and Carl Zlinter (a post German Army officer and doctor who serves in an Australian lumber camp) meet and fall in love with the wealth, breadth, and beauty of Australia, a country that offers far more hope than either of their native lands.
What is most interesting are the depictions of post WW II/Korean War England, where we see a Socialist country, the squandering of food and supplies and scraps along with extreme rationing and no retirement savings, and the bleakest of winters to boot. The feel of this England reminds me of the England portrayed in the famous graphic novel, "V"--an England who is so afraid of destruction that they've squelched their own will to live, their own freedom, and the happiness of its citizens.
In Australia, however, we see a land quite the opposite, a country abundant and overflowing, a cornucopia of opportunity. The price of wool is up for graziers, the wealth far beyond that of its bleak parent England.
The two nations are placed into contrast with one another, and the themes of loyalty to one's nation and family versus seeking new opportunity elsewhere is played with expertly.
My only complaint of the novel, however, is the avoidance of (or perhaps a too subtle treatment of) Carl Zlinter's back story, specifically, his involvement in the German Army, his reason for coming to Australia, and whether or not (at age 36) he had interactions with the Nazi party. This is avoided completely, and is not quite clear, making the historical time line of the book a bit fuzzy and intangible. A bit frustrating, at times.
Overall, though, a wonderful, charming read (charming, being the key word here) that I'd recommend to anyone who adores love stories, who is interested in Korean-War England and Australia, and who longs to know more about the Australian countryside.
This is definitely the case in "Far Country," as Jennifer Morton (an English girl who travels to Australia from a post WW II, depressed and food-rationing England at her late grandmother's insistence) and Carl Zlinter (a post German Army officer and doctor who serves in an Australian lumber camp) meet and fall in love with the wealth, breadth, and beauty of Australia, a country that offers far more hope than either of their native lands.
What is most interesting are the depictions of post WW II/Korean War England, where we see a Socialist country, the squandering of food and supplies and scraps along with extreme rationing and no retirement savings, and the bleakest of winters to boot. The feel of this England reminds me of the England portrayed in the famous graphic novel, "V"--an England who is so afraid of destruction that they've squelched their own will to live, their own freedom, and the happiness of its citizens.
In Australia, however, we see a land quite the opposite, a country abundant and overflowing, a cornucopia of opportunity. The price of wool is up for graziers, the wealth far beyond that of its bleak parent England.
The two nations are placed into contrast with one another, and the themes of loyalty to one's nation and family versus seeking new opportunity elsewhere is played with expertly.
My only complaint of the novel, however, is the avoidance of (or perhaps a too subtle treatment of) Carl Zlinter's back story, specifically, his involvement in the German Army, his reason for coming to Australia, and whether or not (at age 36) he had interactions with the Nazi party. This is avoided completely, and is not quite clear, making the historical time line of the book a bit fuzzy and intangible. A bit frustrating, at times.
Overall, though, a wonderful, charming read (charming, being the key word here) that I'd recommend to anyone who adores love stories, who is interested in Korean-War England and Australia, and who longs to know more about the Australian countryside.
July 23, 2023
I enjoyed this one so much. I expected to, since I enjoy Nevil Shute as an author, but you never can tell! This story turned out to be another good one that included romance and drama, while a young woman makes major decisions in her life -- should she stay in England or move to Australia?
Shute also includes some political commentary in which he does some comparing of England and Australia in the early 1950's, and it is very interesting.
I recommend this one, especially if you are a Nevil Shute fan -- add it to your list!
Shute also includes some political commentary in which he does some comparing of England and Australia in the early 1950's, and it is very interesting.
I recommend this one, especially if you are a Nevil Shute fan -- add it to your list!
December 31, 2022
Another excellent story written by Nevil Shute.
5* A Town Like Alice
2* On the Beach
4* Pied Piper
4* Landfall
4.5* Most secret
4* Marazan
3* Requiem for a Wren
4* No Highway
4* The Chequer Board
4* Beyond the Black Stump
4* The Far Country
TR Round the bend
TR Lonely Road
TR The Rainbow and the Rose
TR Trustee from the Toolroom
5* A Town Like Alice
2* On the Beach
4* Pied Piper
4* Landfall
4.5* Most secret
4* Marazan
3* Requiem for a Wren
4* No Highway
4* The Chequer Board
4* Beyond the Black Stump
4* The Far Country
TR Round the bend
TR Lonely Road
TR The Rainbow and the Rose
TR Trustee from the Toolroom
May 12, 2025
Another lovely novel from Shute, set in the Eastern part of Australia this time. This is the story of two post-WWII countries, and reflects what must have been the author's dislike of all the changes taking place in England at the time. Our heroine comes to Australia for a visit and finds a country full of optimism and hope, with opportunities for anyone who is willing to work hard. In contrast, England has become a place where no one, no matter how hard they try, will ever lift themselves beyond shortages and lack.
At its heart this is a slow moving love story, but it's more the author's love letter to his adopted home of Australia. What I enjoyed was all the description of the countryside, the details of what it was like to be an immigrant there after the war, and the spirit of optimism that runs through the story. Younger readers might consider it naive, but, at least in the US and Australia, the post-war years were years of growth and high expectations. Science and hard work would conquer all our problems, and by banding together nations would bring in a new era of peace and prosperity for everyone - or so it was thought. I'm finding it refreshing to return to that mindset for a few hours.
Shute writes well and makes me happy to care about his people and their lives. I'd recommend A Town like Alice first, but if quiet stories about an interesting time and place appeal to you, then give this one a try. 4.5*
At its heart this is a slow moving love story, but it's more the author's love letter to his adopted home of Australia. What I enjoyed was all the description of the countryside, the details of what it was like to be an immigrant there after the war, and the spirit of optimism that runs through the story. Younger readers might consider it naive, but, at least in the US and Australia, the post-war years were years of growth and high expectations. Science and hard work would conquer all our problems, and by banding together nations would bring in a new era of peace and prosperity for everyone - or so it was thought. I'm finding it refreshing to return to that mindset for a few hours.
Shute writes well and makes me happy to care about his people and their lives. I'd recommend A Town like Alice first, but if quiet stories about an interesting time and place appeal to you, then give this one a try. 4.5*
November 26, 2019
Another good title by Shute which shows a love for the countryside of Australia.
June 16, 2023
Another excellent read by Nevil Shute. The story and writing are smooth, clean, and engaging. Reading this is a great way to pass a little time. Can’t wait to run across another written by Shute.
August 2, 2022
I enjoy Nevil Shute's flowing style of writing, although I didn't find this novel as good as A Town Like Alice and Pied Piper. 3.5 stars bumped up to 4 for GR because the novel comes to an abrupt end when I would have liked it to go on longer.
Having several great uncles and aunts who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, I had a personal interest in this story. It certainly did appear to be The Promised Land of that era.
Having several great uncles and aunts who emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, I had a personal interest in this story. It certainly did appear to be The Promised Land of that era.
November 8, 2012
One of Nevil Shute's better books. If you've read any of his better books before, you'll want to read this one. To any of my friends who haven't read Nevil Shute before, I recommend him. His books inspire me to feel better about the human race, without ever getting sappy. I've read most of his books, and so far every one has been a good read. Several have been made into movies, some of which were good, and some weren't. I should mention that some of his earlier books weren't the greatest, and On the Beach is a bit of an exception, being a dark warning of what might happen if we're not careful.
This book highlights just how bad things were in Britain after the war, which is something I hadn't realized. Shute himself left England for Australia around this time, so he must have known what he was talking about, although surely his observations were colored by his politics. Anyway, the book is an interesting look back at the England and Australia of sixty years ago.
This book highlights just how bad things were in Britain after the war, which is something I hadn't realized. Shute himself left England for Australia around this time, so he must have known what he was talking about, although surely his observations were colored by his politics. Anyway, the book is an interesting look back at the England and Australia of sixty years ago.
February 12, 2010
I enjoy his writing style a lot. It's very practical, and without my realizing it, he has given me a beautiful and (I imagine) accurate picture of the people and places of that little corner of Australia.
I'd like to visit there one day, for sure. I'm sure it's very different now than what it was (just like the USA is different now than in 1950), but all the same, I'd like to visit there.
His characters are very plain and that makes them very endearing. The heroine isn't some 'beauty', but has beautiful little traits about her, and the hero isn't some model from an underwear add :), but is someone with faults that become part of the whole person and make him very real and approachable.
I like how this book dispelled the rosy picture the Australian girl had of England, then prove that the rosy picture the England girl developed of Australia was true. Shute is very biased towards Australia :).
A nice story and an enjoyable read, for sure. No great climax, no depressing plot, just a good story. It makes me want to curl up, relax, and enjoy another.
I'd like to visit there one day, for sure. I'm sure it's very different now than what it was (just like the USA is different now than in 1950), but all the same, I'd like to visit there.
His characters are very plain and that makes them very endearing. The heroine isn't some 'beauty', but has beautiful little traits about her, and the hero isn't some model from an underwear add :), but is someone with faults that become part of the whole person and make him very real and approachable.
I like how this book dispelled the rosy picture the Australian girl had of England, then prove that the rosy picture the England girl developed of Australia was true. Shute is very biased towards Australia :).
A nice story and an enjoyable read, for sure. No great climax, no depressing plot, just a good story. It makes me want to curl up, relax, and enjoy another.
June 17, 2019
I love Nevil Shute novels and this one was excellent as usual. I'm deducting one star because of the pacing. It began with a long, slow buildup describing a young Englishwoman's decision to visit Australia. After she arrives to stay with her relatives on a sheep ranch, and meets the Czech doctor who is clearly the love interest, the action begins to speed up. There is a terrible accident, and then a plot twist which has the heroine return to England. But everything seems to accelerate too quickly. I was surprised when I got to the last page, as it ended too soon -- the mark of a good book, but nevertheless I wanted more. The description of the Australian outback is wonderful. Nevil Shute loved that country so much, and spent the last ten years of his life there.
August 3, 2022
I loved every minute of this book but am quite frustrated by the ending. It just felt unfinished.
June 18, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, brought to my attention by the Retro Reads group; I’ve never read Shute before, but had seen A Town Called Alice years ago on public television.
In this book, set mostly in post-WWII Australia, we meet several wonderful characters, including Jack and Jane Dorman - he’s Australian, and she was a well-off young English woman when they met and fell in love during the First World War while Jack was stationed in England. Jane’s family didn’t approve and gave the couple a hard time - all except Jane’s Aunt Ethel.
As this story opens, Jane has corresponded with Ethel for decades, and fears the old lady might be struggling; Jane and Jack married, worked hard for thirty years raising sheep, and a family, in the abundance of Australia. Their hard work has paid off and wool is fetching high prices - the couple can finally treat themselves to a few luxuries. There has always been food enough in Australia, but rumors from England of the hardships of ongoing rationing have prompted the Dormans to send care packages of dried fruits and little treats to Aunt Ethel, but the old lady dies basically of starvation- her pension had run out, she was a widow living alone, she didn’t understand the new postwar government or the safety net available to her.
Her granddaughter, Jenny, is shocked and saddened; before the old lady dies, she receives a check from Jane is Australia, and she tells Jenny she should use it to go for a visit. In a very touching scene, the old lady tells her granddaughter about the lovely, comfortable life she lived in England as a young woman before the wars - she thinks Jenny’s life would be much improved in Australia, away from the rationing and belt-tightening of England. Jenny goes to Australia, meets the Dormans, and falls in love with the country and Carl, a Czech doctor come to Australia as a refugee, and working his required two years as a laborer in a lumber camp. He also tends the wounds and injuries of the men, despite not being a licensed doctor in Australia.
This was a lovely, romantic, touching story, with great characters, descriptions of Australian life after the war, and the beautiful Australian countryside. I enjoyed it very much, and look forward to reading more of this author’s books.
In this book, set mostly in post-WWII Australia, we meet several wonderful characters, including Jack and Jane Dorman - he’s Australian, and she was a well-off young English woman when they met and fell in love during the First World War while Jack was stationed in England. Jane’s family didn’t approve and gave the couple a hard time - all except Jane’s Aunt Ethel.
As this story opens, Jane has corresponded with Ethel for decades, and fears the old lady might be struggling; Jane and Jack married, worked hard for thirty years raising sheep, and a family, in the abundance of Australia. Their hard work has paid off and wool is fetching high prices - the couple can finally treat themselves to a few luxuries. There has always been food enough in Australia, but rumors from England of the hardships of ongoing rationing have prompted the Dormans to send care packages of dried fruits and little treats to Aunt Ethel, but the old lady dies basically of starvation- her pension had run out, she was a widow living alone, she didn’t understand the new postwar government or the safety net available to her.
Her granddaughter, Jenny, is shocked and saddened; before the old lady dies, she receives a check from Jane is Australia, and she tells Jenny she should use it to go for a visit. In a very touching scene, the old lady tells her granddaughter about the lovely, comfortable life she lived in England as a young woman before the wars - she thinks Jenny’s life would be much improved in Australia, away from the rationing and belt-tightening of England. Jenny goes to Australia, meets the Dormans, and falls in love with the country and Carl, a Czech doctor come to Australia as a refugee, and working his required two years as a laborer in a lumber camp. He also tends the wounds and injuries of the men, despite not being a licensed doctor in Australia.
This was a lovely, romantic, touching story, with great characters, descriptions of Australian life after the war, and the beautiful Australian countryside. I enjoyed it very much, and look forward to reading more of this author’s books.
August 23, 2014
In Australia Jane and Jack Dorman own a prosperous sheep farm, or station. For the past few years most of the money they earned has gone to pay off loans and debts, but now, for the first time the wool money is all theirs, and its been a good year for selling wool. But Jane is worried about her aunt back in England. Aunt Ethel was the only family member who supported her in her decision to marry an Australian and leave England, they still exchange letters, and in Ethel’s latest she mentioned little things that begin to worry Jane.
Jane is right to worry. The story moves to England and Jennifer, Ethel’s granddaughter, receives a telephone call from her mother asking her to check in on Ethel. When Jennifer does she discovers that Ethel is suffering from starvation and malnutrition. She has been hiding her lack of money from her family and hasn’t asked anyone for help, instead she was selling the furniture and pawning whatever valuables she had.
Back in Australia the Dorman’s decide to send Ethel a cheque, but the money comes too late, Ethel knows she is dying and insists that Jennifer take the money and use it herself to leave England and travel to Australia.
Okay, I’ve already spent longer than I wanted recapping the plot, and I haven’t even gotten to Carl Zlinter yet. But you get how a rough idea of how the story starts out.
And those early chapters set in England are utter misery. Wonderfully written, but just plain miserable. Everyone is still living off ration cards, there is no meat, the damn socialists are in power and no one is happy. And the National Health system, which has just been introduced, is destroying the medical profession. People showing up at the doctors asking questions and getting forms filled out! As though they deserved a responsive doctor.
I’m sure there was plenty of hardship in Britain in the years after WWII, but I think that blaming it on the “socialists” and the nationalisation of the health service is part of Shute’s anti-government spiel. Throughout the novel he seems very much of the opinion that if you work hard you will get rewards, and therefore you’ll deserve them. If you don’t get ahead in life then you haven’t been working hard.
His example of this is Australia, where is you get your head down and do the hard graft you’ll be rich. But even there the government is sticking its nose in, making foreign people do 3 years of college in order have their medical qualifications recognised when anyone can see that they’re good hard working people!
But Australia is there to contrast with the grey, wet, cold, crowded, miserable England that Jennifer leaves. Australia is full of open spaces and opportunity. Its warm and sunny, and there is so much land there for the taking.
Yeah, lets not mention the original inhabitants shall we? Because they don’t get a mention at all in this apart from one comment about “blacks” not being in the frame in a postcard. Well, they don’t get to be in frame in this book either.
So, for me, there are a lot of problems with this novel. It’s almost innocent, in a way, how it seems to believe that hard work is enough. But it is a damaging attitude to have, because it ignore the fact that if you start out life with even a little bit of money then you are way ahead of those in poverty, and for many people no amount of hard work will get them out of poverty.
I’m writing a lot about this because it is a huge part of The Far Country, or at least it seemed to take up a huge amount in my reading of it.
There is also the romance, and the wonderful writing. It’s a very easy read, Shute has a very flowing style that just lets the reader keep on reading, even if they don’t agree with everything he says. I suppose I shouldn’t be too hard on Shute, it was the times he lived and wrote in, but for a modern reader I think there are a lot of issues with the book. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book, or at least, I still enjoyed parts of it, but I don’t think it is one I’d be recommending to a lot of people.
Jane is right to worry. The story moves to England and Jennifer, Ethel’s granddaughter, receives a telephone call from her mother asking her to check in on Ethel. When Jennifer does she discovers that Ethel is suffering from starvation and malnutrition. She has been hiding her lack of money from her family and hasn’t asked anyone for help, instead she was selling the furniture and pawning whatever valuables she had.
Back in Australia the Dorman’s decide to send Ethel a cheque, but the money comes too late, Ethel knows she is dying and insists that Jennifer take the money and use it herself to leave England and travel to Australia.
Okay, I’ve already spent longer than I wanted recapping the plot, and I haven’t even gotten to Carl Zlinter yet. But you get how a rough idea of how the story starts out.
And those early chapters set in England are utter misery. Wonderfully written, but just plain miserable. Everyone is still living off ration cards, there is no meat, the damn socialists are in power and no one is happy. And the National Health system, which has just been introduced, is destroying the medical profession. People showing up at the doctors asking questions and getting forms filled out! As though they deserved a responsive doctor.
I’m sure there was plenty of hardship in Britain in the years after WWII, but I think that blaming it on the “socialists” and the nationalisation of the health service is part of Shute’s anti-government spiel. Throughout the novel he seems very much of the opinion that if you work hard you will get rewards, and therefore you’ll deserve them. If you don’t get ahead in life then you haven’t been working hard.
His example of this is Australia, where is you get your head down and do the hard graft you’ll be rich. But even there the government is sticking its nose in, making foreign people do 3 years of college in order have their medical qualifications recognised when anyone can see that they’re good hard working people!
But Australia is there to contrast with the grey, wet, cold, crowded, miserable England that Jennifer leaves. Australia is full of open spaces and opportunity. Its warm and sunny, and there is so much land there for the taking.
Yeah, lets not mention the original inhabitants shall we? Because they don’t get a mention at all in this apart from one comment about “blacks” not being in the frame in a postcard. Well, they don’t get to be in frame in this book either.
So, for me, there are a lot of problems with this novel. It’s almost innocent, in a way, how it seems to believe that hard work is enough. But it is a damaging attitude to have, because it ignore the fact that if you start out life with even a little bit of money then you are way ahead of those in poverty, and for many people no amount of hard work will get them out of poverty.
I’m writing a lot about this because it is a huge part of The Far Country, or at least it seemed to take up a huge amount in my reading of it.
There is also the romance, and the wonderful writing. It’s a very easy read, Shute has a very flowing style that just lets the reader keep on reading, even if they don’t agree with everything he says. I suppose I shouldn’t be too hard on Shute, it was the times he lived and wrote in, but for a modern reader I think there are a lot of issues with the book. It didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the book, or at least, I still enjoyed parts of it, but I don’t think it is one I’d be recommending to a lot of people.
April 24, 2025
This is my second book by Shute and I look forward to more!
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...
March 29, 2019
Have read it a couple times and also enjoyed the movie. Among Shute's better stories. Appreciated both the print and video versions for the landscape and characters. Different start to movie ...
***
quote about movie ...
"Two people from different backgrounds escaping their own past and finding a new life in post World War 2 Australia, can their pasts be left behind? Can the war be forgotten?
Director: George Miller
Writers: Nevil Shute (novel), Peter Yeldham
Stars: Michael York, Sigrid Thornton, Brenda Addie | See full cast & crew »"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091034/
***
quote about movie ...
"Two people from different backgrounds escaping their own past and finding a new life in post World War 2 Australia, can their pasts be left behind? Can the war be forgotten?
Director: George Miller
Writers: Nevil Shute (novel), Peter Yeldham
Stars: Michael York, Sigrid Thornton, Brenda Addie | See full cast & crew »"
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091034/
October 13, 2011
Although this is only the third Nevil Shute book I've read he is quickly rising to the top of my favorite author list. The is a certain brevity and purity in his writing that I have seldom seen elsewhere. He will quickly have you vested in his characters and unable to put down the book. Even though the time period he is writing about is sixty years ago the themes and problems transend both time and setting.
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