Nevil Shute's A Town Like Alice (called The Legacy in the United States) was published in 1950. It tells the story of a young woman named Jean Paget who becomes romantically involved with a fellow prisoner of war during WWII in modern-day Singapore. After the end of the war, the two immigrate together to Australia together and begin a love affair. Additionally, Jean attempts to revive a small town called Alice Springs with a recent sizeable inheritance that she received. However, things are not what they appear to be in Alice Springs—including her relationship.
A Town Like Alice was adapted into film, television, and radio over several different decades, signaling its immense popularity. Additionally, reviewers cited the novel's historical accuracy and well-drawn characters as one of its best features. To that end, the novel has been the subject of several studies by professional historians who have examined it to determine where Shute (and Jean) were held in the war and if the novel could be used as a teaching tool in the future.
