Pastoral (novel)

First US edition (William Morrow)

Pastoral is a novel by the English author Nevil Shute. It was first published in 1944 by Heinemann. Its theme is that even in the midst of war, and among warriors, everyday life, such as romance, will continue.

Pastoral is a slight but charming romance set on an English airbase which revolves around an experienced pilot, his bomber crew, their interest in fishing and his developing relationship with a young WAAF signals officer. As with many of Shute's novels, a narrator character who might be seen as Shute appears. It is a simple story told straightforwardly with Shute's normal attention to detail which makes it particularly evocative.