Nevil Shute was an English novelist and aeronautical engineer, born on January 17, 1899, in Ealing, London. He is best known for his popular novels, which often explore themes of human resilience and the impact of war. Some of his most famous works include On the Beach and A Town Like Alice. Shute served in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I and later worked in the aviation industry. He moved to Australia in 1950, where he continued to write until his death on January 12, 1960. His storytelling often reflects his engineering background and love for flight.