Written in 1957 by Nevil Shute, an aviation engineer who worked on the development of secret weapons for the British in WWII, On the Beach is the story of how a few of the last generation face their fate. A nuclear war, triggered by who knows what, has instantly killed everyone in the northern hemisphere. The contaminated winds are slowly coming to the southern hemisphere, and the people of Australia know they are doomed. They know the approximate time — several months away — when they will be developing radiation poisoning and dying.
Dwight Towers, an American submarine commander spared from death by the initial onslaught of nuclear radiation because his sub was underwater at the time the bombs were hurled from one country to another, lost his wife and two children. He has been relocated to Australia to command a sub there, and meets Moira Davidson. Moira is a young woman who bitterly realizes she will never have time to get married, become pregnant and bear children as she always assumed she would, and as her friends Mary and Peter Towers have done. Dwight and Moira get to know each other and help lessen each other’s sorrow in a very touching friendship. Peter and Mary Towers Holmes have to face their coming fate with their newborn.
“Devastating” is a term that I think has been overused in book reviews. In this case, however, the word fits. As I read, I couldn’t help but wonder how I would face this fate. It isn’t the same as getting “just” a death sentence. The realization that the whole planet, the whole of human civilization, would be gone, forever, made the devastation much worse.
During the past few months, I have read several end-of-the-earth/end-of-humanity novels (Life as We Knew It, The Road, Oryx and Crake, The Brief History of the Dead and The Mist; See my reviews). This is by far the best in terms of making me think seriously about what community is, what humanity is, what would be lost if everyone died. Although this was written fifty years ago, it still holds up very well.
Check the WRL catalog for the availability of On the Beach
I read On the Beach years ago, and I remember feeling emotionally drained when I finished it. With the vast number of books I read, if I can still remember how I felt 20 years later, it did really pack a punch.
By the way, I really am enjoying your library’s blog. I grew up in Williamsburg, live now in Richmond, and am also a librarian. I hope your patrons are using it because your reviews are really excellent.
Nice job!
After reading Alas, Babylon and On the Beach in about seventh grade, a friend and I stocked his playhouse with canned goods and water, and tried to outfit his twelve foot boat (with a 6 hp engine) to sail to Bermuda when the warnings came. When his mom found out, she sent him to counseling and we weren’t allowed to hang out for six months.
Susan and Andrew -
After I read the book, I rented the 1959 movie on DVD, starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, and Fred Astair. I had heard that the movie opened a lot of people’s eyes to the horrendous dangers of nuclear war a half century ago. When I watched the film a few months ago, I was somewhat disappointed with it. Ava Gardner’s character was quite a bit older (and was more of a confirmed drinker) than the young woman in the novel, which to me somewhat changed the dynamic between her character (Moira) and Gregory Peck’s character (Dwight). Also, the only music played was “Waltzing Matilda,” over and over and over! I guess American audiences needed to be reminded that the movie took place in Australia. Even though I liked the book much more than the movie, the movie’s black-and-white scenes are what stick in my mind. I have not seen the 2000 made-for-tv remake.
Susan, thanks for your nice comments about the blog! I think the staff members involved have really been enjoying sharing good books and films with readers.
Just some typos I think you would want to fix, you wrote: (Peter and Mary Towers have to face their coming fate with their newborn.) Their last name isnt towers, thats commander Dwights last name, peter and mary’s last name is Holmes.
Thanks, Brandan!
hey, ya i just finished reading on the beach in school, and i found it very intresting, and then i saw the movie over my easter break and i loved it, i love black and white movies anyways, but it really had me thinking, what if this was to really happen, but anyways, i loved the book and i think it was put together really good.
I recently finished On the Beach and I think it was amazing but I’m having some trouble analyzing it.
[...] for younger teens. Try it if you enjoyed The Hunger Games or older apocalyptic titles such as On The Beach or even less well know books like Monument [...]