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16th out of 100 books
—
12 voters
Pied Piper
by
Nevil Shute
One of Nevil Shute’s most exciting novels, Pied Piper is the gripping story of one elderly man's daring attempt to rescue a group of children during the Nazi invasion of France.
It is the spring of 1940 and John Sidney Howard wants nothing more than to enjoy his fishing holiday in southern France in peace and quiet. However, the Nazi conquest of the Low Countries puts an en...more
It is the spring of 1940 and John Sidney Howard wants nothing more than to enjoy his fishing holiday in southern France in peace and quiet. However, the Nazi conquest of the Low Countries puts an en...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
August 24th 2010
by Vintage
(first published 1942)
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While this was published in 1941 and was about events of the 1940 German invasion of France, to me it was historical fiction made more interesting and real because of the immediacy. A very leisurely book about frantic events- the pace fit a story of a 70 year old man traveling, largely on foot, with a group of very young children. Seeing events through the eyes of the children who did not see the Germans as enemies but treated all people they met as befitted their actions- kind or friendly peop...more
Three out of five stars for Nevil Shute's "Pied Piper," a story of an old man who risks his life to deliver six children to safety during the second world war. A huge fan of Nevil Shute (ever since I read "A Town Like Alice"), the "Pied Piper" was not in the same league, unfortunately, though still a pleasant read.
Written in spare, muscular language, and juggling the flavor of German, French, and British diction, the novel has a relaxing, meandering pace to it, despite the suspense of the subje...more
Written in spare, muscular language, and juggling the flavor of German, French, and British diction, the novel has a relaxing, meandering pace to it, despite the suspense of the subje...more
What a wonderful book! Though not strictly HF, because it was written about a time in which Shute lived, this story takes place in France during the early part of WWII. As in others of Shute's books, the main story is told as a recollection by characters in the "present day"--in this case, a month or two after the events in the story. An elderly English gentleman [nb, at my own stage in life, I take umbrage at calling someone not yet 70 "elderly!"] on a fishing holiday in eastern France is calle...more
Sep 12, 2012
Sally906
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adventure,
australian-author
The original Pied Piper of Hamelin story is a German Folk tale where a man offers to rid Hamelin of its rat problem for a fee – accepted he plays his pipes and the mice all follow him to be drowned in a river. However when the city leaders renege on the payment the piper plays another tune and the children all follow him into a gap in the mountain where it closes behind them and they are never seen again. I am not sure of the connection as Mr Howard is rescuing the children in this story rather...more
This was a very sweet story. Definitely sentimental, even predictable (at least the larger overall story), but in a good way, making this book charming and engaging because of these things. A 70 year old British widower, at the beginning of WW2, has recently lost his son to the battle, and is finding himself at loose ends. He decides to take a fishing trip in France (near Switzerland), but finds Hitler's armies advancing across Europe much more rapidly than anyone could have foreseen. What happe...more
Englishman Mr. Howard who is 70 is on a fishing holiday in eastern France when the Germans invade in 1940. He shortens his vacation to return home and is persuaded to take the two Cavanaugh children with him. As he travels through Europe his family grows as other displaced children join him. The journey is long, arduous and fraught with danger (possibly being overheard speaking English is only one of the dangers).
In 1942 this novel was made into a movie with the tagline: He Raced Hitler's Panzer...more
In 1942 this novel was made into a movie with the tagline: He Raced Hitler's Panzer...more
I last read Nevil Shute as a boy. His work is never going to be classed as great literature; he's too sentimental for that, and panders too much to the reader besides. All the same, his prose is lucid, economical and plain-spoken, while his well-crafted plots are engaging and keep you interested.
Pied Piper is the story of an elderly Englishman who ends up trapped in France when the Germans invade in 1939. His attempts to return to England are hampered by a lengthening train of children that atta...more
Pied Piper is the story of an elderly Englishman who ends up trapped in France when the Germans invade in 1939. His attempts to return to England are hampered by a lengthening train of children that atta...more
Recovering from the death of his Son, an RAF pilot during the early days of the War, elderly John Howard takes a Holiday in France close to the Swiss Border. The news of the War is sombre, the French Invasion by Germany is gathering pace, and is swooping southwards beyond Paris.
He is asked by friends to escort their two young children, back to England and embarks on a race against time to reach the atlantic coast and a passage to safety, before the advanzing Nazi forces consume France. Along the...more
He is asked by friends to escort their two young children, back to England and embarks on a race against time to reach the atlantic coast and a passage to safety, before the advanzing Nazi forces consume France. Along the...more
Page-turner of a WWII story about an older Englishman trying to navigate an assortment of children through German-occupied France. The book reminded me of the first half of A Town Like Alice and, despite its unruffled tone, I couldn't put it down and came within seconds of missing my subway stop while reading it Monday night.
The ending is pure old-fashioned melodrama and there is one ridiculously stereotypical comment about Jewish people. But, as the book blurb says, Shute was a master storytel...more
The ending is pure old-fashioned melodrama and there is one ridiculously stereotypical comment about Jewish people. But, as the book blurb says, Shute was a master storytel...more
1 like · like · see review
This is one of my very favorite novels of all time. I highly recommend it.
Dec 31, 2008
Jennifer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical,
fiction
An old Englishman, Howard, whose son has just been killed in the RAF (WWII) goes to France to fish. It's May 1939 and the Germans are poised to invade. At the last minute he decides to turn around. An English couple ask him if he will take their children, 5 and 9, back with him. He agrees. Children get sick, trains don't go to his destination and he picks up more children along the way.
This is a wonderful adventure involving Howard and some children wandering through France in a perilous time....more
This is a wonderful adventure involving Howard and some children wandering through France in a perilous time....more
I really enjoyed this book. I kind of devoured it. Good thing I was on vacation. Though there were a few too many coincidences for the story to be completely believable, but I really like the story of the elderly John Howard trying to get the children to England, so I was willing to excuse the less than likely parts of the story. I liked John Howard's character and found this to be a good read. It made me want to go home and watch "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" with Ingrid Bergman, which is al...more
As is the case with most of nevil Shute's books, this one centres around World War 2. But in other respects, it is quite different from most of the others; there is nothing about aviation or military life, other than the activities of the war that provides the setting for this charming story about an old man and the monumental task he took on, to manage the escape of a group of children from war-torn France.
I just finished re-reading this book now and found it to be just as enjoyable as when I f...more
I just finished re-reading this book now and found it to be just as enjoyable as when I f...more
What a great read! Very exciting, sweet and would make such a good movie. The movie was actually made in 1942--the same year it was published, and basically a year after the story is meant to take place! I can totally see this made into a movie again (evidentially it was a tv movie in 1990 or something) starring Audrey Tatou as Nicole and John Hurt as Howard.
I gave it 4 stars because it is so vivid and the character of Howard is so lovely. Maybe a bit old-fashioned plot structure, but I really e...more
I gave it 4 stars because it is so vivid and the character of Howard is so lovely. Maybe a bit old-fashioned plot structure, but I really e...more
Nevil Shute is a terrific author. I so very much enjoy his novels and his style of writing. His characters seem to come alive from the start. The protagonist in Pied Piper is John Howard, a 70-year-old English widower whose son was recently killed in action against the Germans very early in World War II. He very much wants to make some sort of war-effort contribution to his country, such as air-raid warden, but is always found to be too old. Very restless, he had to get away for a while and deci...more
Hyggelig bog af Nevil Shute, den passer fint til en efterårsdag i sofaen. Der er ikke de store udsving og spændingshøjdepunkter, men historien fortælles stille, roligt og hyggeligt ligesom den gamle mand i bogen prøver at gøre sin og børnenes tur gennem Frankrig.
Sproget er en smule gammeldags, men bogen er jo heller ikke af nyere dato og det øger blot til hyggen omkring bogen.
Dette er kun den anden bog af Shute jeg læser men begge har været beskrivelser at folk der skulle fra A til B i krigens s...more
Sproget er en smule gammeldags, men bogen er jo heller ikke af nyere dato og det øger blot til hyggen omkring bogen.
Dette er kun den anden bog af Shute jeg læser men begge har været beskrivelser at folk der skulle fra A til B i krigens s...more
This was a 4.5 stars for me, for sure. If I hadn't already read A Town Like Alice, I think I would have rated this at 5. I really enjoyed Pied Piper, but I loved Alice. At any rate, this is an excellent, gentle read.
Set in the early 1940's, as Germany invaded France during WWII, Pied Piper is a story of an old gentleman, John Howard, who patiently and carefully escorts a group of children to safety across France, off to England, and ultimately to America. He starts with two children and picks up...more
Set in the early 1940's, as Germany invaded France during WWII, Pied Piper is a story of an old gentleman, John Howard, who patiently and carefully escorts a group of children to safety across France, off to England, and ultimately to America. He starts with two children and picks up...more
Ah, this is one of my favorite books of all! Shute is a wonderful writer. His characters are quite ordinary and believable yet they are also extraordinary and wonderfully good. He gives me faith in humanity, in the world, and in the power of just calmly going about doing what needs to be done. Most people really are like this!
The narrative builds from a calm center and grows more and more compelling and urgent. His protagonist, a 70 year old British gentleman, goes fishing in the Jura in France...more
The narrative builds from a calm center and grows more and more compelling and urgent. His protagonist, a 70 year old British gentleman, goes fishing in the Jura in France...more
Synopsis:
John Howard, an elderly Englishman is on a quiet fishing holiday, in France, while the Second World War, unfolds around him. He attempts to get back to England, and along the way is entrusted with care of various children, in the hope that he can get them to safety. Children of various nationalities, languages, and pasts, all follow this gentle man, as he does all he can to fulfill his responsibilities.
Thoughts:
I picked up this book, as part of a reading circle read. It is a gently-pace...more
John Howard, an elderly Englishman is on a quiet fishing holiday, in France, while the Second World War, unfolds around him. He attempts to get back to England, and along the way is entrusted with care of various children, in the hope that he can get them to safety. Children of various nationalities, languages, and pasts, all follow this gentle man, as he does all he can to fulfill his responsibilities.
Thoughts:
I picked up this book, as part of a reading circle read. It is a gently-pace...more
I picked this up randomly in a bookshop (ah, the forgotten fun of browsing) and loved it. Very much of its time, 1942, an elderly man with his English habits gets stuck in France at the outbreak of war, and as he tries to get home through the developing chaos, collects a troup of children he has to look after on the way. It has very much the atmosphere of wartime films, such as The Foreman Goes to France, and was actually made into an Oscar winning film. Despite the benign nature of the first-pe...more
Not my favourite Nevil Shute book, I think I prefer his later work, but like all his stories, its a wonderfully gentle view of a horrible situation, sympathetically and written with what seems like great insight.
The story has a few interesting turns and one wonders where the inspiration for the book came from, in a way I hope it was based upon a real event.
The story has a few interesting turns and one wonders where the inspiration for the book came from, in a way I hope it was based upon a real event.
What a great story, beautifully written. What more can you ask from a book? Starts out just a bit slow but by page 50 things really begin to happen.
An old man from England goes on vacation at the wrong time to France. He agrees to take 2 children back with him to England. Then he inadvertently ends up with more children--but the Germans are invading France.
I love Nevil Shute books and will read more soon!
An old man from England goes on vacation at the wrong time to France. He agrees to take 2 children back with him to England. Then he inadvertently ends up with more children--but the Germans are invading France.
I love Nevil Shute books and will read more soon!
A novel published in 1942. An older English man, in his 70s, travels to Southern France just before Germany invades and over runs France. He decides to travel back to England just a few days before to be safe. As he is ready to leave an English couple asks them to take their two children back to England with him; he is reluctant but decides to do so. What normally would take a full day of train and boat turns into a much longer journey because Germany does invade. Along the way the old man ends...more
First book by the Shute, but really dug it. Great drama, pathos, and pacing, but also an intriguing depiction what it was like to be in France while it was being overrun by the Germans in WWII. Especially interesting because this book was published in 1942, so the descriptions couldn't have been colored by knowledge of the forthcoming German atrocities or eventual defeat.
An older gentleman, who can't find any way to contribute to wartime London, takes off to France to do some fishing. Along the way, he is asked to escort several children to safety, which he does, through many dangerous situations. The place where he is retelling his account is a bit of a stretch, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Nevil Shute is excellent at depicting the effects of war on individuals. This book - telling the story of an elderly Englishman trying to leave France at the start of WWII, accompanied by two children, and as the book's title suggests ending up with several more - would be great to read alongside historical studies. I enjoyed it and am keeping it on the shelf for my kids.
I absolutely loved this book! I just discovered it at a used book store.
Besides enjoying the story, I was taken up with the pleasure of reading a WWII story which was written during WWII.
As twenty-first century reader, and one with an interest in history, I found the author's view to be fascinating. For Shute this was a contemporary novel.... for us, today, it is a glimpse into how one writer was experiencing a world crisis which was unfolding before him.
If you are new to Shute, read a bit of...more
Besides enjoying the story, I was taken up with the pleasure of reading a WWII story which was written during WWII.
As twenty-first century reader, and one with an interest in history, I found the author's view to be fascinating. For Shute this was a contemporary novel.... for us, today, it is a glimpse into how one writer was experiencing a world crisis which was unfolding before him.
If you are new to Shute, read a bit of...more
For some reason I had difficulty getting into this story. I think it was in large part because the main character was an old man. This British citizen is caught in the ensuing onslaught of the German army in France and is given the charge to lead children back to Great Britain and safety. The reason this was difficult is that being and old man, the main character couldn't really do much. He often has to react to events and hope that by chance they will escape. I know that this should have height...more
I picked this up in the new book section of our library recently, based on the author. THEN I realized I had seen the movie as a child.........Monty Woolley came to my mind. Some things one never forgets.
I enjoyed reading the book and don't feel inclined to be critical.
I enjoyed reading the book and don't feel inclined to be critical.
This is the first book I ever remember reading as a child that I couldn't put down. We read it at school and I was thrilled to have a "real story" and characters you could actually like and care about.
I then went on to read just about every book he ever wrote.
I then went on to read just about every book he ever wrote.
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Nevil 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.
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Jan 21, 2012 04:10pm