I believe that men have tended to find Trustee in the Toolroom at or near the top of Shute's oeuvre. I always have assumed that for women that place would be reserved for A Town Like Alice. I usually value women's opinions over men's: can the collective wisdom here point to a book that is better regarded? It is often true that what an author considers an entertainment ages better than a meaningful book, but A Town Like Alice scores for me on both counts, but it is not as expertly packaged as Trustee.
I think when a book falls out of fashion or print and then returns after many years it shows there is something ultimately truthful and eternal about the book. Another interesting and moving account of a heroine by the same author is ‘Requiem for a Wren’ (if you haven’t already read that).
I loved Trustee from the Toolroom. When I finished reading it, I wanted to start all over again. I was surprised to be honest - I picked it up by chance, thought the title terrible and the concept unlikely, but it works brilliantly, and is just unpretentious and somehow joyful. I agree it's a very male book, but as a woman it's nice to read something about men who are endearing, decent and humane (like The Detectorists - a show I love for the same reason). A Town Like Alice strikes me as a more ambitious book which is why I think it's odd Shute considered it a potboiler.
I agree. It is shocking to learn he thought so. The common thread of humanism runs through both Alice and Trustee and indeed all 4 Shute novels I have read. Graham Greene considered The Third Man an entertainment but my guess is that 300 years from now, it will be what people remember him by.
Didn't know Substack could generate images for us... I liked Jean Paget in her bush hat, my mother grew up on sheep station in Australia. (My images when not own photos are from Wikipedia or taken in museums where artists died before 1955). A lot of Sstacks are using unsplash whatever that is.) Daughters' grudges? Well 1950s Dads...
I must re-read this now! For me the ultimate woman-as-entrepreneur novel is probably Charlotte Perkins Gilman's What Diantha Did - and you might find Kathleen Norris's book Saturday's Child interesting as well - one young woman working out her place (and work) in the world, set against the unionisation of San Francisco in the first part of the 20th century.
It must be 30+ years since I read this book. I thought of it as a wartime romance, but brilliant to remember the economic and social significance. I do remember thinking I'd love to have worked in the ice cream parlour! I hadn't thought before about the focus on women's space and economic activity. Thanks for a great post.
For another great novel on women, entrepreneurship and work, try Dorothy Whipple's High Wages.
Thank you! The war time story is of course incredibly memorable, which in a way is why I haven't dwelt on it here. One thing I noticed on this reading was that Shute kind of has Jean Paget suffering from post traumatic shock syndrome (not called that) but she's numb for several years after the war. (It's very understated and no fuss, of course, in keeping with the times and Shute's values.) So the second half of the book, and the creation of the town, is also her personal recovery from the ordeal of the war. And thanks for recommending Whipple - she's been on my radar for a while, but I've not known where to start.
I recognise the 1960s paperback cover but where are the other illustrations from? And which did Shute consider his 'serious' ones? Compare Graham Greene whose more readable ones were classed as 'entertainments'.
Most of the images are substack-generated. I don’t use images unless I know the copyright so otherwise mostly I use are covers of books I own, or via wikicommons. I am curious what others do as there seem to be so many substacks bursting with wonderful images! A lot of the images I’d like to use belong to Getty etc unfortunately. However, I'm ambivalent about AI so if there are good alternatives I'd love to know about them. Shute's favourite according to his daughter was "Round the Bend", and "In the Wet" was another (afraid I haven't read either). His daughters seem to have had their own grudge against "Alice" - one of them commented that Jean Paget was his model for them and they didn't measure up! She also obviously resented being relocated to Australia, away from all her friends, as a teenager.
What a great take! I’ve read the novel a few times over the years (though not for a long time now) and never would have thought of most of this. I love it.
Fascinating - thank you! I haven't read A Town Like Alice. Other novels about woman-as-entrepreneur... hmmm... 'Mildred Pierce'? (but not such a happy ending...) - I've only seen the adaptation with Kate Winslet (many years ago) - I haven't read the book, so I might be wrong / misremembering...
I feel A Town Like Alice might be subtitled "Nine hundred a year of One's Own" (£900 being a lot in 1948!) I've never heard of Mildred Pierce and it sounds just my cup of tea, thank you!
I believe that men have tended to find Trustee in the Toolroom at or near the top of Shute's oeuvre. I always have assumed that for women that place would be reserved for A Town Like Alice. I usually value women's opinions over men's: can the collective wisdom here point to a book that is better regarded? It is often true that what an author considers an entertainment ages better than a meaningful book, but A Town Like Alice scores for me on both counts, but it is not as expertly packaged as Trustee.
I think when a book falls out of fashion or print and then returns after many years it shows there is something ultimately truthful and eternal about the book. Another interesting and moving account of a heroine by the same author is ‘Requiem for a Wren’ (if you haven’t already read that).
Haven’t read (yet) but it’s on the TBR pile.
I loved Trustee from the Toolroom. When I finished reading it, I wanted to start all over again. I was surprised to be honest - I picked it up by chance, thought the title terrible and the concept unlikely, but it works brilliantly, and is just unpretentious and somehow joyful. I agree it's a very male book, but as a woman it's nice to read something about men who are endearing, decent and humane (like The Detectorists - a show I love for the same reason). A Town Like Alice strikes me as a more ambitious book which is why I think it's odd Shute considered it a potboiler.
I agree. It is shocking to learn he thought so. The common thread of humanism runs through both Alice and Trustee and indeed all 4 Shute novels I have read. Graham Greene considered The Third Man an entertainment but my guess is that 300 years from now, it will be what people remember him by.
Didn't know Substack could generate images for us... I liked Jean Paget in her bush hat, my mother grew up on sheep station in Australia. (My images when not own photos are from Wikipedia or taken in museums where artists died before 1955). A lot of Sstacks are using unsplash whatever that is.) Daughters' grudges? Well 1950s Dads...
Not just 1950s dad but a Victorian - or that's how his daughter considered him. (Born 1899.)
I must re-read this now! For me the ultimate woman-as-entrepreneur novel is probably Charlotte Perkins Gilman's What Diantha Did - and you might find Kathleen Norris's book Saturday's Child interesting as well - one young woman working out her place (and work) in the world, set against the unionisation of San Francisco in the first part of the 20th century.
Just googled both - sound fascinating - thank you!
It must be 30+ years since I read this book. I thought of it as a wartime romance, but brilliant to remember the economic and social significance. I do remember thinking I'd love to have worked in the ice cream parlour! I hadn't thought before about the focus on women's space and economic activity. Thanks for a great post.
For another great novel on women, entrepreneurship and work, try Dorothy Whipple's High Wages.
Thank you! The war time story is of course incredibly memorable, which in a way is why I haven't dwelt on it here. One thing I noticed on this reading was that Shute kind of has Jean Paget suffering from post traumatic shock syndrome (not called that) but she's numb for several years after the war. (It's very understated and no fuss, of course, in keeping with the times and Shute's values.) So the second half of the book, and the creation of the town, is also her personal recovery from the ordeal of the war. And thanks for recommending Whipple - she's been on my radar for a while, but I've not known where to start.
Yes, good point about the creation as recovery from the ordeal. I had forgotten her post-war numbness. I really want to read it again now!
Enjoy! It's also - given how much it packs in - surprisingly short.
I recognise the 1960s paperback cover but where are the other illustrations from? And which did Shute consider his 'serious' ones? Compare Graham Greene whose more readable ones were classed as 'entertainments'.
Most of the images are substack-generated. I don’t use images unless I know the copyright so otherwise mostly I use are covers of books I own, or via wikicommons. I am curious what others do as there seem to be so many substacks bursting with wonderful images! A lot of the images I’d like to use belong to Getty etc unfortunately. However, I'm ambivalent about AI so if there are good alternatives I'd love to know about them. Shute's favourite according to his daughter was "Round the Bend", and "In the Wet" was another (afraid I haven't read either). His daughters seem to have had their own grudge against "Alice" - one of them commented that Jean Paget was his model for them and they didn't measure up! She also obviously resented being relocated to Australia, away from all her friends, as a teenager.
What a great take! I’ve read the novel a few times over the years (though not for a long time now) and never would have thought of most of this. I love it.
Thank you! It's been a while since I'd read it too, and it was interesting what I'd forgotten (so many characters!)
Fascinating - thank you! I haven't read A Town Like Alice. Other novels about woman-as-entrepreneur... hmmm... 'Mildred Pierce'? (but not such a happy ending...) - I've only seen the adaptation with Kate Winslet (many years ago) - I haven't read the book, so I might be wrong / misremembering...
I feel A Town Like Alice might be subtitled "Nine hundred a year of One's Own" (£900 being a lot in 1948!) I've never heard of Mildred Pierce and it sounds just my cup of tea, thank you!