A Town Like Alice - Great Books On Tape - by Nevil Shute, read by Leo McKern. Audiobook. Abridged.

Set during World War 2, A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute tells the story of a young woman (Jean Paget) who is captured, along with 32 other women, by Japanese soldiers in Malaysia. It tells of her ordeals and struggle to survive as they are starved and marched around the enemy occupied Malayan countryside. And yet, that's only half the story. The rest you will have to find out on your own. I think you will enjoy doing so. Australian actor Leo McKern gives a moving performance of this classic book with his deep and handsome English voice. Nevil Shute was one of Australia's best known authors who's other works are worth checking out from your local library or bookstore.
Note: There are a few inappropriate racial comments and attitudes in this story. However, when my mind becomes a bit judgmental, I ask myself; "If I was born and raised in their shoes and experienced what they did, could I say for certain that I would have acted differently?" And "If they were born and raised in modern times would they have been different?" (It's not to excuse what happened but rather to recall that we are greatly influenced by our times, upbringing, and society.)
GBOT Rating: Story-Excellent. Reading Performance-Excellent
Enjoy the audiobook and checkout the other Great Books On Tape at this site.
Leo McKern is best known for playing an old curmudgeon of a British lawyer named Rumpole of Rumple of the Bailey fame. He gives an audiobook performance of Rumpole also on this channel. Curmudgeons Unite!
P.S. If you like well performed heartfelt stories like this one, check out Goodbye Mr. Chips performed by Christopher Plummer. It's a favorite of mine.
Spoiler Alert: (don't read if you don't want to know)
A Town Like Alice refers to Alice Springs, Australia.
Note: The cassette tape was old (1979) and worn resulting in some audio changes which were minimized using Audacity software. The audio quality won't interfere with your listening pleasure in this old Listen For Pleasure audiobook.

[@AnonYmous-uw2qm]

that was brilliant ... what an incredible story. wonderful

[@peteranderson3390]

I remember reading this book over forty five years ago. I'd forgotten how much I loved it. Thankyou.

[@bltnomayo]

Oh thank you so much for posting this. A Town like Alice is one of my favourite books. Both the film version and the serial are brilliant too but you can't beat the incredible original story. Leo Kern has very much done justice to this wonderful novel.

[@peterforsythe3643]

Thank you. A very heartwarming story, told and read beautifully!

[@jeanette6396]

Great book! And I love Leo McKern! Thanks so much. I'm listening to all the Nevil Shute books available online. This is the only one I've read before, because of the movie.

[@someblastedlimey3124]

Thank you, it's a great book I read 50 years ago. The film is excellent too.

[@margaretgoodheart4167]

What a beautiful story. Must listen again soon. Mr. Mac Fadden''s talent adds luster to Mr. Shute's words.

[@joanlenahan2078]

Read as a young girl..later saw film on tv. Both cruel both beautiful. So now as a senior happened upon it here by chance...audiobooks what the dr ordered due to shoulder break. Love the reader and will seek out his other reads. Greetings from an irish insomniac and a very cold Emerald Isle 💚💚☘️☘️😅

[@nata3467]

One of my favorite books one of the most underrated writers and wonderful movie

[@lesgoodjobeasyfixkellem7818]

What a wonderful story, I’ve enjoyed it very much, thank you.

[@SteveRose-iq1cs]

Neville Shute is a treasure

[@babs675]

Great reader. ❤

[@alexandracolmant9983]

Wonderful reading of a good story. Thank you!

[@marybowers2985]

Thank you so much for this. A sleepless night made much easier listening to my favourite book.

[@greatbooksontape782]

I'm glad you liked it. I'll have to add some boring audiobooks to help you sleep better. 😊

[@marybowers2985]

@@greatbooksontape782 🤣🤭. Nevil Shute and Monica Dickens are my favourite authors, so anything by them would be much appreciated. Their books wont help me sleep but will make the time pass more happily 😊 👍

[@ericdessaules8346]

The 1981 PBS 5 hour mini-series does a superb job of portraying the book. Bryan Brown plays Joe Harman, Gordon Jackson the lawyer and Helen Morse plays Jean. I was just able to get a DVD of it from the Vermont Movie Store.

[@krissylarsen5253]

Thank you! I so enjoyed this.

[@greatbooksontape782]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@madeleineroselle8931]

Thank you for sharing this (really enjoying it)....

[@ennymac6936]

Thank you

[@Je-Vette]

Dang, these novellas and other “public “ paperbacks have really great stories compared with modern )2020s) stories and films. Shirley Jackson, Doris Lessing, Neville, Orwell, Daphne DuMarea Salinger (particularly not Catcher..) Patricia highsmith etc Hollywood is been raiding this for 50-70 years now .

[@dianamills5243]

Fantastic.

[@jacquietremain5743]

Wonderful book led to wonxerful movie

[@1319papi]

very good but it’s a pity that this is not the complete book - so much interesting stuff left out

[@greatbooksontape782]

Sounds like I'll have to read the book someday.

[@chriswaters3442]

Accurate description of the Japanese.