"King Rat" by James Clavell, published by Nelson Doubleday, Garden City, New York, copyright 1962 by James Clavell. 1975' Book Club Edition, uniform with the Shogun and Tai-Pan. [point of printing: Only three books by Clavell listed on the page opposite the title, "Shogun", "Tai-Pan", "King Rat". The Asian Saga books published after Shogun (1975) are not listed.

Original dust jackets [some soiling, wear, edge creases: see photos], hard boards with black lettering and decorations on the front boards and spines [a little wear], 5.3/4" x 8.1/2"; 380 pages, very good condition.

"King Rat" is a 1962 novel by James Clavell and the author's literary debut. Set during World War II, the novel describes the struggle for survival of American, Australian, British, Dutch and New Zealander prisoners of war in a Japanese camp in Singapore. Clavell was a prisoner in the Changi Prison camp, where the novel is set. One of the three major characters, Peter Marlowe, is based upon Clavell.

A film adaptation of "King Rat" was released in 1965.

James Clavell, the son of a Royal Navy family, was educated in Portsmouth before, as a young artillery officer, he was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore. It was on this experience that his bestselling novel KING RAT was based. He maintained this oriental interest in his other great works: TAI-PAN, SHOGUN, NOBLE HOUSE and GAI JIN. Clavell lived for many years in Vancouver and Los Angeles, before settling in Switzerland, where he died in 1994.

US: Priority (c 2-4 days) --------- $12.50
Canada: Priority (c. 2-6 weeks) - $32.50
World: Priority (c.2-8 weeks) --- $44.50