The Rainbow and the Rose

 

by Nevil Shute (read by Robin Kermode)

 

 

First edition cover

 

 

 

One pilot's life story

Pilot Johnny Pascoe attempts a rescue at a remote location in Tasmania, crumps his light aircraft on the landing strip and ends up needing to be rescued himself. Ronnie Clark, taught to fly by Pascoe thirty or so years earlier, flies to the rescue of his mentor and in the course of his endeavors, Pascoe's life history is revealed in a series of flashbacks.

Shute is a gifted storyteller -- and those are few and far between. While his tales might not be to everyone's liking, re-read after re-read, I remain thoroughly entranced. I like the pacing. I like the lack of violence. I like his insights into the hard-working everyman, who perseveres to make a living and to do what is right -- and who doesn't spend his days crying in his beer and ranting that the world "owes him'. I like his writing style and his use of language.

Nevil Shute himself is an interesting guy: aeronautic engineer by day and gifted writer by night. His first book was published in 1926 and his last posthumously in 1960. Published in 1958, The Rainbow and the Rose is his penultimate book. The title comes from a sonnet by Rupert Brooke, "The Treasure."

Bumping up on four star.