Publication
Pan, c1947
Collection
Status
Available
Description
Fiction. Literature. John Turner, a young man with a checkered past, has been told he has just one year to live. He decides to use his remaining time in search of three very different men he met in the hospital during the war, each of them in trouble of some kind: a pilot whose wife had betrayed him, a young corporal charged with killing a civilian in a brawl, and a black G.I. wrongly accused of the attempted rape of a white English girl. As Turner discovers where these men have landed on the checkerboard of life, he learns about compassion, tolerance, and second chances, and overcomes his fear of death.
User reviews
LibraryThing member thorold
This 1947 book is interesting because Shute is very clearly setting out to write a serious novel, not an adventure story. Little bits of engineering and aviation do creep in here and there, inevitably, but essentially it reads like an early working-out of the ideas about race and religion that form
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the basis of Round the Bend. Few modern readers would find anything remotely controversial in his argument that people of different racial or cultural backgrounds should learn to respect each other as professionals and colleagues: as in Round the Bend, the workplace is the model for society. We might also agree with his notion that differences of religion are not so important either, for "ordinary people like us", but in the light of recent history we might find it rather too optimistic. And we might smile a little sadly at his choice of settings for this openness and tolerance: post-colonial Burma and a small village in the South-West of England. Show Less
LibraryThing member Emma291
What will you do when you discover an old injury is now in a fairly critical stage and will have a major impact on your life? The hero, an ordinary working man who has perhaps not always behaved with great honour decides to find out what happened to three others who were in some difficulty with him
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towards the end of the war. As always, Nevil Shute writes about ordinary people, who you'd quite like to meet one day. Perhaps we should look for good things in the people we already know. Show Less
LibraryThing member DeltaQueen50
The Chequer Board by Nevile Shute is another fine example of this author’s work. This is a multi-part story telling of the experience of John Taylor, whom the doctors have given just one year to live due to injuries that he sustained in a wartime plane crash. Turner decides to use his remaining
Turner and two others were under guard while in hospital as all had been charged with crimes. Turner served some time in military prison for stealing supplies from the army and selling the supplies at a profit. Corporal Duggie Brent was under a murder charge as this British Commando killed a man during a bar fight, and Pfc Dave Lesurier, a black American servicemen, had tried to kill himself after he had been accused of trying to rape a young English girl. The third man, Flying Officer Philip Morgan, who had displayed a certain amount of racism, had relocated to Burma, and had matured and learned to be much more tolerant of race issues. The outcome of Turner’s search lead to a few surprises as the lives of these men was much different than what Turner had expected.
I found this an interesting story, perhaps a little too idealistic and simplified, but Shute is at his best when writing of the average man and his story-telling skills are put to good use here. The parts that dealt with the question of racism was handled well and he obviously had a great deal of sympathy for the black American servicemen and the tensions that surrounded them. One word of warning in that the word N ----- was used frequently, but fit with the story as this term was commonly used in the late 1940’s . The Chequer Board is a heart-warming morality tale of second chances and is a great read for anyone who needs their faith in their fellow man restored.
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time to trace three men that he got to know while recovering in the hospital.Turner and two others were under guard while in hospital as all had been charged with crimes. Turner served some time in military prison for stealing supplies from the army and selling the supplies at a profit. Corporal Duggie Brent was under a murder charge as this British Commando killed a man during a bar fight, and Pfc Dave Lesurier, a black American servicemen, had tried to kill himself after he had been accused of trying to rape a young English girl. The third man, Flying Officer Philip Morgan, who had displayed a certain amount of racism, had relocated to Burma, and had matured and learned to be much more tolerant of race issues. The outcome of Turner’s search lead to a few surprises as the lives of these men was much different than what Turner had expected.
I found this an interesting story, perhaps a little too idealistic and simplified, but Shute is at his best when writing of the average man and his story-telling skills are put to good use here. The parts that dealt with the question of racism was handled well and he obviously had a great deal of sympathy for the black American servicemen and the tensions that surrounded them. One word of warning in that the word N ----- was used frequently, but fit with the story as this term was commonly used in the late 1940’s . The Chequer Board is a heart-warming morality tale of second chances and is a great read for anyone who needs their faith in their fellow man restored.
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LibraryThing member JenneB
Interesting--stories within stories within stories! I wish he'd write more about Southeast Asia--every time he does you can just see how much he loves it.
LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Well. It wasn't bad - mildly interesting setup for recounting of wartime adventures (no, not battle. Quite different), and one trip out of England. And there's quite a bit about racism, from multiple angles - white American troops vs black American troops vs Brits who didn't see what all the fuss
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was about; "he married a _coloured_ woman!" being a reason to cut a man out of his family; and so on. But there's really no point, no plot, no climax or...anything. He just sort of wanders about and learns things about his wartime hospital mates - doesn't even talk to all of them - and story over. The improving relations with his wife are the only real arc in the book. Mildly enjoyable to read (it is a Shute, after all), but I doubt I'll ever bother to reread. Worth reading the once, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member DinadansFriend
Nevil Shute, being English, was struck by the form that racism took in the American Army during WWII. A Black American Airman is falsely accused of rape, and is driven to attempting suicide, rather than deal with the upcoming Court-martial. However, after recovery, he does have the charge reduced
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to six months confinement due to high quality legal tap-dancing at the court. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
0330202677 / 9780330202671
Original publication date
1947