On the Beach
On the Beach is a post-apocalyptic novel by British-Australian author Nevil Shute. Published in 1957, the story is set in Australia in the aftermath of an all-out nuclear war, tracking the final days of a group of characters who await the inevitable spread of deadly radiation from the Northern Hemisphere. With no hope of survival, the novel delves into their emotions, relationships, and the human spirit's resilience in the face of inevitable doom. Shute's work stands as a sobering reflection on the Cold War era's nuclear anxieties. It is the basis for the 1959 film starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Anthony Perkins, and Fred Astaire.
Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, red cloth with gilt lettering on spine. London: William Heinemann, 1957. #10544.
A pleasing copy, approaching near fine condition in the original dust jacket. There's a minor spot on the rear panel.