Vinland the Good

by Nevil Shute

Book by Shute, Nevil

Genres: Historical Fiction, British Literature, Fiction, Plays

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written as a screenplay concept by one of my favorite authors Nevil Shute, Vinland the Good was a book I unexpectedly couldn't put down. I picked it up at the library thinking it was an unusual topic for Shute, but its themes revisit those encountered in An Old Captivity. I opened it last night predicting I'd read a few pages before turning in and read on into the night. I woke around 2 AM and picked it up again. I turned the pages til I reached the last, relishing every moment!

The story starts as young Major Callendar aged 27 returns from WWII to take up his teaching position again at an English public schcool that he'd left for the war after only a year as an unremarkable instructor. The headmaster and his two assistant masters all over age sixty arrange the school's schedule so that upon Callendar's return he'll have to teach the school's new required course in American history that none of the older men want to teach.

War, world travel, and two stints as a prisoner of war have changed Callendar from the uncertain young man who left the school six years before. Major Callendar starts by asking his students if any of them can tell him who first discovered america?

Unbeknownst to Callendar, the headmaster is uncertain of his new instructor's ability and he listens in through a crack in the adjoining room's communicating door. What the headmaster hears from the room next door is not the story of John Cabot and Christopher Columbus that everyone expected.

When one of the students questions the new teacher's verson of history, remarking that "it says Cabot in the book" Callendar answers back, "well, the book's wrong then" and so begins a story of Norse sea-going exploration and settlement that starts in AD 1002,

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book I read years ago and I enjoyed it immensely. I’ve read all of Nevil Shute’s books. The best by far is “A Town Like Alice.”

[Jazzy Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written as a teleplay, a British headmaster of a boys' school listens from the adjoining room as the new teacher gives the boys a rousing lesson on the discovery of America, which differs from their textbooks.

[David Dennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

VINLAND THE GOOD is a film treatment. And a nice film it would make. The scenes of a Viking ship sailing down the coast from Labrador and on to Cape Cod would be exciting, and the pristine landscape, beautiful. Nevil Shute researched old writings on these events which appear to be true and used them in OLD CAPTIVITY in which the subject of reincarnation is a theme. This treatment, in play format, tells of the discovery of America by people of Norwegian descent and a couple of Scottish slaves. Shute’s writing is always simple and straight forward, making his work relaxing and easy to read. In that regard, he reminds me of Somerset Maugham whose work I also enjoy. Both authors often tell of British people out in far flung places somewhere in the vast empire—and it’s always in jarring contrast to the Mile End Road or the Elephant and Castle. Reading this made me realize that Shute was familiar with film scripts and film making from the early stages of his writing career. Much of his work is cinematic.

[Jim Puskas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very seldom read plays, and almost never a screen play, so I never would have read this one had it not been by Nevil Shute. I'm glad I did. It's a rather engaging little piece, telling some of the well-known Icelandic saga in a fanciful and romanticized manner, probably aimed at students (in fact it's introduced as a classroom presentation). My biggest complaint is that it's all too brief, I was hoping for more substance. Shute didn't seem to concern himself with demonstrable facts -- it's very doubtful for example that Lief Ericsson actually reached Cape Cod, although other Vikings may have done so later on -- but much of the Viking history is half-legend in any case, so the whole thing provides endless possibilities for great story-telling.
It causes me to consider going back and re-reading some of the more scholarly treatments of the topic, notably Mowat's "Westviking" and to investigate further what evidence there may be of a Viking contact with the new England coast.

[Charles Sheard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather quaint modern adaption of the two Vinland sagas, the Grœnlendinga saga and the Saga of Eirik the Red, framed as a first history lesson for a course on US History taught at a British academy at the conclusion of WWII, which Shute wrote in the form of a screenplay in 1946. I could easily picture a film version in my head in the style of that era, but I am afraid it would have turned out a bit too sentimental at times and lacking in dramatic heft. I much prefer the actual Grœnlendinga saga itself, for its direct no-nonsense telling. It's also a shame that Shute wrote this prior to the discovery of the Norse settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland, and other advancements in research (for instance, it's doubtful - though still a mystery - that they came ashore as far south as Cape Cod). I do like some of the commentary offered at the very end, how history is so often taught about the high-level political figures and yet it is the actions of (and by corollary the effects upon) the common man that are most important.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in the format of a screenplay, this is a telling of the discovery of America by Eric the Red long before Columbus’ voyage. The setting of the tale is a boys school in England and the headmaster who takes over the teaching of the History class for the Lower Fifth. Scenes from the school are interspersed with the historical account of Lief Erikson and Eric the Red.
Generally I don't do well with reading plays getting too hung up on the dialog names. But this was an easy read and after the first few pages I was able to settle in and not have to read the name at the start of each dialog. It's typical Shute format in terms of the story within the story.

[Mark Croxford · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly disappointing

Purchased this book because I am a long the Sute fan and had never read it. It is a film script which is interestingly different. However the story didn't engage me. I felt no connection with the characters.

At less than the cost of a coffee I have satisfied my curiosity about the book, but I would never re-read it. In comparison I own all Shute's other books and have read all of them several times and my favourites maybe a dozen times over 40 years.

[Pat Stocking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew Leif Ericson founded Cape Cod???

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three star concept elevated by his writing.

[Trish McLellan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictional story about Leif Ericsson's finding of North America.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful play extolling the virtues of imagination in the classroom. By a wonderful writer.

[Scilla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was about Leif Erikson's discovery of Cape Cod. It's written as a script and in nothing like Nevil Shute's other books.