4.3
King Rat
The epic novel of war, savagery, and survival in a Japanese POW camp by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell
Japanese POW camp Changi, Singapore: hell on earth for the soldiers contained within its barbed wire walls. Officers and enlisted men, all prisoners together, yet the old hierarchies and rivalries survive. An American corporal, known as the King, has used his personality and wiles to facilitate trading with guards and locals to get needed food, supplies, even information into the camp. The imprisoned upper-class officers have never had to do things for themselves, and now they are reduced to wearing rags while the King's clean shirt, gained through guts and moxie, seems like luxury in comparison. In the camp, everything has its price and everything is for sale. But trading is illegal--and the King has made a formidable enemy. Robin Grey, the provost marshal, hates the King and all he represents. Grey, though he grew up modestly, fervently believes in the British class system: everyone should know their place, and he knows the King's place is at the bottom.
The King does have a friend in Peter Marlowe, who, though wary of the King and himself a product of the British system, finds himself drawn to the charismatic man who just might be the only one who can save them from both the inhumanity of the prison camp but also from themselves. Powerful and engrossing, King Rat artfully weaves the author's own World War II prison camp experiences into a compelling narrative of survival amidst the grim realities of war and what men can do when pushed to the edge. A taut masterwork of World War II historical fiction by bestselling author James Clavell.
FictionClassicsSagasHistoricalRomanceMulticultural & Interracial
RELEASED2019
PUBLISHERBlackstone Audio, Incorporated
LENGTH544
LANGUAGEEN
James Clavell (born Charles Edmund Dumaresq Clavell; October 10, 1924 – September 6, 1994) was an Australian-born British author, screenwriter, and director, best known for his *Asian Saga* consisting of 6 novels, including the critically acclaimed [*Shōgun*][2] (1975). This epic historical novel, inspired by the story of English navigator William Adams, explores cultural clashes and survival in feudal Japan. It became an international bestseller and has been adapted twice for television: first as a groundbreaking NBC miniseries in 1980 and more recently in 2024 as a critically praised FX/Hulu series. Clavell’s experiences as a World War II prisoner of war in a Japanese camp deeply influenced his works, which are celebrated for their rich cultural detail and historical depth. In addition to his novels, he wrote screenplays for films such as *The Great Escape* (1963) and directed *To Sir, with Love* (1967). Naturalized as an American citizen later in life, Clavell left a legacy of storytelling that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. He passed away in Vevey, Switzerland, at the age of 69. ([Source][1]) [1]: https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Clavell [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2918756W
4.3
King Rat
The epic novel of war, savagery, and survival in a Japanese POW camp by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell
Japanese POW camp Changi, Singapore: hell on earth for the soldiers contained within its barbed wire walls. Officers and enlisted men, all prisoners together, yet the old hierarchies and rivalries survive. An American corporal, known as the King, has used his personality and wiles to facilitate trading with guards and locals to get needed food, supplies, even information into the camp. The imprisoned upper-class officers have never had to do things for themselves, and now they are reduced to wearing rags while the King's clean shirt, gained through guts and moxie, seems like luxury in comparison. In the camp, everything has its price and everything is for sale. But trading is illegal--and the King has made a formidable enemy. Robin Grey, the provost marshal, hates the King and all he represents. Grey, though he grew up modestly, fervently believes in the British class system: everyone should know their place, and he knows the King's place is at the bottom.
The King does have a friend in Peter Marlowe, who, though wary of the King and himself a product of the British system, finds himself drawn to the charismatic man who just might be the only one who can save them from both the inhumanity of the prison camp but also from themselves. Powerful and engrossing, King Rat artfully weaves the author's own World War II prison camp experiences into a compelling narrative of survival amidst the grim realities of war and what men can do when pushed to the edge. A taut masterwork of World War II historical fiction by bestselling author James Clavell.
FictionClassicsSagasHistoricalRomanceMulticultural & InterracialThrillersWar & Military
RELEASED2019
PUBLISHERBlackstone Audio, Incorporated
LENGTH544
LANGUAGEEN
James Clavell (born Charles Edmund Dumaresq Clavell; October 10, 1924 – September 6, 1994) was an Australian-born British author, screenwriter, and director, best known for his *Asian Saga* consisting of 6 novels, including the critically acclaimed [*Shōgun*][2] (1975). This epic historical novel, inspired by the story of English navigator William Adams, explores cultural clashes and survival in feudal Japan. It became an international bestseller and has been adapted twice for television: first as a groundbreaking NBC miniseries in 1980 and more recently in 2024 as a critically praised FX/Hulu series. Clavell’s experiences as a World War II prisoner of war in a Japanese camp deeply influenced his works, which are celebrated for their rich cultural detail and historical depth. In addition to his novels, he wrote screenplays for films such as *The Great Escape* (1963) and directed *To Sir, with Love* (1967). Naturalized as an American citizen later in life, Clavell left a legacy of storytelling that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. He passed away in Vevey, Switzerland, at the age of 69. ([Source][1]) [1]: https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Clavell [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2918756W
