King Rat

Interesting Facts

• The book is based on James Clavell's personal experience as a prisoner of war in the Changi camp during World War II.
• The novel is set in the Changi prisoner-of-war camp in Singapore, one of the most notorious and brutal camps run by the Japanese.
• The main character, known as the King, is a charismatic American sergeant who manages to create a smuggling and trading network in the camp, allowing him to survive and thrive in dire conditions.
• The book explores themes of survival, morality, and human nature in extreme conditions, showing how different people adapt to life in captivity.
• The novel was the first in James Clavell's series of books known as the "Asian Saga" and was acclaimed for its realistic depiction of life in a prisoner-of-war camp.