A Year of Reading

I was a bit dubious when I picked up The Legacy by Nevil Shute from the library as it was an old book without a dust jacket and printed in 1950. I hesitated starting the book because I assumed it would not be an interesting story. Quickly I was reminded to not judge a book by its cover as the story inside is beautifully written and captures the reader from the start.

War, tragedy, love, faithfulness, romance, and pain are all covered within. It starts rather dully with a British solicitor (aka lawyer) recounts the tale of one of his clients with a rather modest estate who desires to make changes to his will. Years later, after the war is over, the man dies and the solicitor seeks out the heir; a niece is the only one left. We see a young woman marked by tragedy yet imbibed with strength and fortitude. She is understandably overwhelmed by "the legacy" that she receives. Her matter of fact yet heroic tale of survival as a "non prisoner" in Malaya during the war explains her air of tragedy. She decides to travel back to Malaya to offer a gift to a village that provided great assistance. Once there, a discovery is made that changes the course of her life. Alas, I cannot provide further details without giving away the rest of the tale.

I highly recommend this book, it is one that I am considering adding to my personal library.

Note: This book is listed on the BBC book list as A Town Like Alice.