Date of Birth: 17 January 1899
Zodiac Sign: Unknown
Date of Death: 12 January 1960
Biography
Nevil Shute Norway, commonly known as Nevil Shute, was a British-Australian novelist and aeronautical engineer. Born on 17 January 1899 in Ealing, London, Shute was educated at Shrewsbury School and later at Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied engineering. His early career was marked by his work in the aeronautical industry, including his role as a stress calculator at the de Havilland Aircraft Company and later as a co-founder of the aircraft construction firm, Airspeed Ltd. Shute’s first novel, “Marazan,” was published in 1926, but he gained significant attention with his 1938 publication “Ruined City.” His wartime service in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II provided rich material for his later works. Relocating to Australia in 1950, Shute continued to write prolifically, producing some of his most famous novels, including “A Town Like Alice” (1950) and “On the Beach” (1957). His writing is known for its clear, unadorned prose and its focus on ordinary people facing extraordinary challenges. Nevil Shute passed away on 12 January 1960 in Melbourne, Australia, leaving behind a legacy of beloved novels that continue to be read and cherished worldwide.
5 Interesting Facts about Nevil Shute
1. Nevil Shute was not just a novelist but also an aeronautical engineer and co-founder of the aircraft manufacturing company Airspeed Ltd.
2. He served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II and participated in the Normandy landings.
3. “On the Beach” (1957), one of his most famous novels, was adapted into a major motion picture in 1959, starring Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner.
4. Shute emigrated to Australia in 1950 and many of his later novels are set there, reflecting his love for his adopted country.
5. He published over 20 novels during his lifetime, several of which have been adapted into films and television series.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nevil Shute
1. “It’s no good going on living in the ashes of a dead happiness.”
2. “You can always rely on a society that drives its people to despair, to know how to prepare its own destruction.”
3. “I would like to see the Peking man on a bicycle.”
4. “He knew when to shut up and to listen; and this art of listening, of hearing out the other fellow, is one of the secrets of true leadership.”
5. “No man can achieve anything worthwhile without being prepared to take risks.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the height of his career, Nevil Shute’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, a significant sum for a writer in his era.
Children
Nevil Shute had two daughters, Shirley Norway and Heather Norway, with his wife, Frances Mary Heaton.
Relevant Links
1. [Nevil Shute Foundation](https://www.nevilshute.org/
2. [Biography on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5227.Nevil_Shute
3. [Nevil Shute on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevil_Shute
4. [IMDb Profile](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0795709/
