Romance Shute, Nevil: A Town Like Alice. V1. 2 Mar 2011

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‘Probably more people have shed tears over the last page of A Town Like Alice than about any other novel in the English language… remarkable’ - John Ezard, Guardian

Jean Paget is just twenty years old and working in Malaya when the Japanese invasion begins. When she is captured she joins a group of other European women and children whom the Japanese force to march for miles through the jungle – an experience that leads to the deaths of many. Due to her courageous spirit and ability to speak Malay, Jean takes on the role of leader of the sorry gaggle of prisoners and many end up owing their lives to her indomitable spirit. While on the march, the group run into some Australian prisoners, one of whom, Joe Harman, helps them steal some food, and is horrifically punished by the Japanese as a result. After the war, Jean tracks Joe down in Australia and together then begin to dream of surmounting the past and transforming his one-horse outback town into a thriving community like Alice Springs…