Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
(Cph.) Skrifola [1962] 240 s.
Description
Young pilot Donald Ross has little in common with the Oxford don who has employed him on an expedition to the Arctic - and still less with his beautiful but stubborn daughter, Alix.But once the three of them reach the treacherous shores of Greenland their destinies are inextricably bound by the events that unfold there.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Emma291
Interesting to go back sometimes and realize Mr Shute used similar (although I hate to use the word, but cannot come up with another) tricks in other novels. This one starts with an older, learned man telling the story and it evolves into the young man's story, which then goes back in time. Flight
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and airplanes in the late twenties and early thirties, it brings to mind Trustee from the Toolroom in some ways. An enjoyable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member burnit99
Nevil Shute wrote one of the most hauntingly depressing books I've ever read, "On the Beach". I was glad to find this old-fashioned adventure novel by him, in which a pilot in the late 1930's is hired by a wealthy archaeologist to fly an aerial photography expedition to northern Greenland, in an
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attempt to prove that the Scots long ago travelled there and set up colonies. The archaeologist's spoiled and beautiful daughter insists on coming along to care for her father. Seeing as how this is billed as an adventure-romance, the rest is pretty easy to anticipate, although Shute does a fine job of elevating the adventure and the romance above the typical fare of the day. And there is a bit at the end in which the pilot, tripped out on sleeping pills, seemingly channels the spirit of the young male Scot who, along with a female compatriot, was kidnapped by Leif Ericson, and helped him explore Greenland and northern Canada. This not only explains the title of the book, but adds a new dimension to an already pretty good read. Not as powerful as Shute's masterpiece work, but an intriguing tale by a fine storyteller regardless. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenneB
Once again, Nevil Shute writes a book that is mainly about airplane maintenance. Once again, I cannot put it down. The ending was kind of lame though, so only 3 stars for you, Mr Shute!
LibraryThing member jeffome
Another very good book in the Nevil Shute column. This is an older book that i had recently acquired, so it is way out of order in my normal reading routine. But a very enjoyable story that was way more interesting, with fairly exciting adventures flying a seaplane in harsh North Atlantic
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environments with all of its dangers and pitfalls, than the cheesy romance-driven cover would ever suggest. [My pet peeve bursts forth again! It is as if the art people never even read the book!!!] At one point, this was a dream in a story in a story - lots of levels....the first story which we never returned to for closure. Anyway, lots of interesting details about the responsibility of properly maintaining an aircraft at all times (a favorite topic of Shute who had an early history in aviation), living with Eskimos primitively on the Greenland coast, the importance of dreams, and a big history lesson on Leif Erikson and theories of the discovery of the New World by Europeans. My particular copy was an old Lancer paperback in excellent condition that i really enjoyed spending time with, and i made a valiant effort to read it gently to keep it as such, and i did succeed (unlike many other times in the past when i have been a wee bit careless with my older books and they deteriorate dramatically before i have finished with them.) A four-star read with a little too much sap to maintain....so 3 1/2 it is...but no regrets! Show Less
LibraryThing member brone
Shute, always a good reed
LibraryThing member Castlelass
An Oxford professor hires Donald Ross to pilot a seaplane to Greenland to take a photographic survey, seeking evidence of Viking and Celtic settlements. Professor Lockwood plans to accompany Ross. Lockwood’s nineteen-year-old daughter, Alix, feels he should not travel alone, so she decides to
The first three-fourths of this book is about the trip to Greenland. It describes the preparations and the trip itself, how seaplanes are refueled, and lots of aviation-related specifics. It takes a hard turn in the last quarter, becoming almost a different book completely, though still set in Greenland. The characters are well-developed. I enjoyed it up to the last quarter, which ventured into bizarre territory.
It was published in 1940 and reflects many of the attitudes of the time. I had previously read Shute’s A Town Like Alice, which I enjoyed immensely. This one does not quite measure up, but the writing is strong. I will definitely be reading more of his work.
3.5
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accompany him. Lockwood and Alix have no idea what they are getting into.The first three-fourths of this book is about the trip to Greenland. It describes the preparations and the trip itself, how seaplanes are refueled, and lots of aviation-related specifics. It takes a hard turn in the last quarter, becoming almost a different book completely, though still set in Greenland. The characters are well-developed. I enjoyed it up to the last quarter, which ventured into bizarre territory.
It was published in 1940 and reflects many of the attitudes of the time. I had previously read Shute’s A Town Like Alice, which I enjoyed immensely. This one does not quite measure up, but the writing is strong. I will definitely be reading more of his work.
3.5
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Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1940
Physical description
240 p.; 17.8 cm
Local notes
Omslag: Ikke angivet
Omslaget viser et kvindansigt i silhuet
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "An Old Captivity" af Else Jøhnke
Lommeromanen, bind R 93
Omslaget viser et kvindansigt i silhuet
Indskannet omslag - N650U - 150 dpi
Oversat fra engelsk "An Old Captivity" af Else Jøhnke
Lommeromanen, bind R 93
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Pages
240
DDC/MDS
| 813 |