Pastoral is a novel by the English author Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute

Nevil Shute Norway was a popular British-Australian novelist and a successful aeronautical engineer. He used his full name in his engineering career, and 'Nevil Shute' as his pen name, in order to protect his engineering career from any potential negative publicity in connection with his novels.-...

. It was first published in 1944

1944 in literature

The year 1944 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Samuel Hopkins Adams – Canal Town*Jorge Amado – Terras do Sem Fim *Saul Bellow – Dangling Man*Jorge Luis Borges – Fictions...

. 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

Airbase

An airbase is a military airfield that provides basing and support of military aircraft....

 which revolves around an experienced pilot, his bomber crew, their interest in fishing and his developing relationship with a young WAAF

Women's Auxiliary Air Force

The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...

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.