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King Rat Audiobook
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(3.00) - 14,327 listener ratings
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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.
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"The beginning of Clavell's truly epic series of culture clash novels is a curiously autobiographical book. King Rat takes us to Changi, a Japanese prison camp during World War 2, where British and American soldiers are held in dire conditions. We watch as people cling to honor, duty and any semblance of structure for their own mental health and survival. Every observation about humanity in these conditions is more interesting because Clavell himself was held in a Japanese prison camp during the war. He controls his memories admirably in the novel, to create a very moving, but never selfishly irrational narrative. His control creates a story that is never too hopeless to lose its deeper meaning, and that embraces its characters as real people, rather than tools for social messages. Readers may be surprised by how entertaining such a dark story can be - authors don't usually go the route Clavell travels. King Rat has the least culture clash of Clavell's series, as most of the interactions are between the Westerners themselves and the major emotional crux is the captivity. For new readers, do not be daunted by the series - the books are tenuously related and can be read in almost any order you like. As this book is the shortest and deals with the most characters of our own cultures, it may be the easiest introduction to James Clavell, though some readers may prefer to jump right into the deeper culture clash of Shogun or Noble House. Regardless, please read at least one James Clavell book in your lifetime. There is no one in historical fiction or literary fiction quite like him."
— John (4 out of 5 stars)
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“A dramatic, utterly engrossing novel…Harsh and brutal in its revelations…James Clavell is a spellbinding storyteller, a brilliant observer, a man who understands much and forgives much.”
— New York Times -
“A magnificent novel.”
— Washington Post -
“Tension wound up to the snapping point.”
— Christian Science Monitor -
“Clavell’s spellbinding masterpiece…is made more engrossing by flashbacks to the home front.”
— Library Journal
King Rat Listener Reviews
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Raymond Haugen, 4/12/2019
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" Great story. Discusses honor and character in a prison camp. "
— Bethany, 2/17/2014 -
" I read this book when it first came out then again in 2004. Liked it very much as I do all of Clavels books. It's a very gritty story. The movie left something to be desired. This prison of war camp really existed and much of the story is based on fact. It must have been hell on earth. "
— Jerome, 2/14/2014 -
" I first read this book during the mid-1980s, and still had a copy on my shelf after all these years. Probably the best of the Clavell novels, but not a great book. The movie Stalag 17 seems to me to be a better and emotionally truer depiction of life in a WWII prison camp. "
— John, 2/9/2014 -
" A complex novel about human nature in captivity. Social structures and norms are re-ordered in order to survive. The desire for freedom and the fear of it actually materializing. The life of a POW camp is brought to life by Clavell. His prose is excellent and paints a horridly beautiful picture. But still quite as good as Shogun... "
— Matthew, 2/6/2014 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I didn't expect a book about WWII POWs to be so entertaining and easy to read, but damned if this didn't achieve that. "
— Megan, 1/25/2014 -
" A very gritty tale of a WWII Japanese prison camp. Struck me as very realistic.. the scenarios seemed like what might have actually occured. Like the writing style, very clean and concise. "
— Andrew, 1/20/2014 -
" This book had me smoking way more than usual and I can remember when last I ate so many eggs. First book my husband and I read together as newly weds 21 years ago. "
— Janeen, 8/20/2013 -
" My first Clavell... I can't wait to read more. "
— Mouse, 7/31/2013 -
" This WWII POW survival story is a compelling study of what people do to survive. It takes place in the Japanese' Changi Prison on Singapore Island and is semi autobiographical. It is very well done but I couldn't give it five stars because I found it depressing. "
— Chuck, 6/28/2013 -
" The book itself is fine, but it was quite disappointing relative to the other books in the series. Whereas the first three were clearly linked together despite occurring across the centuries, this book is standalone. "
— Kim, 6/15/2013 -
" Very interesting book that did a great job depicting a man in a terrible location trying to make ends meet while exploiting others in the process. I would recommend. "
— Ed, 3/29/2013 -
" One of my favorite books. James Clavell tells the story of Allies in a Japanese POW camp with a unique ironic humor, wit, and profound meaning. "
— Katie, 3/13/2013 -
" Intense story of life in Changi prison camp is close in feeling to the movie, but explains more. The added parts about the prisoners' families back home were less successful "
— Jennifer, 2/25/2013 -
" I found this be a really engaging historical read. I felt affinity for the characters and I was sad when it ended. "
— Claire, 10/1/2012 -
" This book will be getting to me for weeks. "
— Hannah, 7/25/2012 -
" This is by far Clavell's easiest book; you can get through it in a few sittings. It's also his most moving. "
— Cameron, 6/10/2012 -
" Must read for anyone who likes war stories! This one goes deeper than most of the rest books about war. "
— Lucka, 2/2/2012 -
" Top Writer..story of a prison camp in ww2. A Classic. "
— Bill, 12/17/2011 -
" A terrific story of life in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, and how the will to survive can bring out the best and worst in men. The first of Clavell's books that I read, not by any means the last. "
— Gordon, 11/29/2011 -
" My dad made me read this when I was 11 when I was complaining about what we were having for dinner. "
— Thea, 6/24/2011 -
" I recall reading this in Junior High, or early High School. A tremendous story of perseverance and dedication. "
— Bob, 4/23/2011 -
" SHorter book with some characters met in other of Clavells books. Definitly a darker read, about WWII prisoner of war camp experiences. "
— Ingrid, 3/10/2011 -
" A brutal story, but riveting. "
— Laura, 2/9/2011 -
" Loved the whole series! Highly recommend it! "
— Patricia, 1/6/2011 -
" weird ... but, good read "
— Ms, 1/5/2011 -
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Timothy Hourihan, 12/21/2010
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" the eating rat thing freaked me out too much "
— Elizabeth, 12/16/2010 -
" This WWII POW survival story is a compelling study of what people do to survive. It takes place in the Japanese' Changi Prison on Singapore Island and is semi autobiographical. It is very well done but I couldn't give it five stars because I found it depressing. "
— Chuck, 11/25/2010 -
" A great story teller. Life in a Prisoner of War camp. The big cheese. "
— Jim, 11/10/2010 -
" It's a very long time since I read this - I've recently had a hankering to read it again. Must find a copy. "
— Celine, 11/10/2010
About James Clavell
James Clavell (1921–1994) was a novelist, screenwriter, director, and World War II veteran and prisoner of war. He is best known for his epic Asian Saga novels, which launched with the 1962 bestseller King Rat, and their televised adaptations. He also wrote screenplays for such films as The Great Escape and The Fly, and was a writer, director, and producer on To Sir, with Love. His books Shogun, Noble House, Tai-Pan, and Whirlwind were #1 New York Times bestsellers.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.