--- product_id: 10598768 title: "King Rat (Asian Saga)" price: "€ 6.18" currency: EUR in_stock: false reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.nl/products/10598768-king-rat-asian-saga store_origin: NL region: Netherlands --- # King Rat (Asian Saga) **Price:** € 6.18 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** King Rat (Asian Saga) - **How much does it cost?** € 6.18 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.nl](https://www.desertcart.nl/products/10598768-king-rat-asian-saga) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: King Rat (Asian Saga): 9780440145462: Clavell, James: Books Review: James Clavell's first and best book - I read King Rat (KR) shortly after it was first published. I remember thinking then that KR was an exciting book, but perhaps far-fetched, even if the author was a POW in Singapore. A decade later I was posted to Singapore, and met a few people who remembered the years of Japanese occupation, and some who were prisoners themselves. It seems that Mr. Clavell was not exaggerating. Having recently read a couple of volumes of the author's Asian Saga, I decided to read KR again. This edition has an informative foreword, in itself very good literary criticism, and some parts in the book which may not have been in the first edition - I am not entirely sure. This time around, the book struck me not merely exciting, but positively dramatic, and many scenes could indeed have been combined into a very dramatic play. As other reviewers have already described KR's background and plot, I would add only that character development is first rate, as are the sections depicting the lives and fates of the prisoners' families. Most of these are bleak, and some are not resolved, but there are few happy endings, apart from the fact that most of the main prisoner characters survived, a great accomplished in view of happened in Changi in 1942-45. It was a horrible place, and KR is its dramatic chronicle. One may perhaps also think of it as the requiem for the British Empire military, and certainly for the UK Army. In any case, I reckon KR is one of the most powerful novels from the Second World War, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. Review: surprisingly good! - this is about the inhabitants of a japanese prison camp, and takes place during WW2. i’m not a fan of books about war, and i’ve read too many nonfiction books about the holocaust to enjoy “prison camp fiction”. but i’m rereading james clavell’s asian saga, and this is book four. i’ve started this a couple times, but then i would stop and just move on to ‘noble house’ (book five). so, a few days ago, i decided to give this book one last push, and i read enough of it (maybe fifty/sixty pages) to get hooked on the story. i was doomed! turns out, this is a great book. the best part is the character development, and the complex relationships between the men. these are people just barely surviving, but most have formed tight, small units they can trust. the units work together in order to live, but they play, too. there are running card games, and high stakes manipulation in order to get some fresh coconut, for example. even a few pranks come into play, but they’re extremely mean spirited. they still made me snicker. periodically, the book features a few women - these characters are not well fleshed out, and they’re usually just a story device, imo. it’s odd, bc clavell can write women when he wishes. his first book in this series, shogun, has a wonderful female character, and the women around her, while not given quite as much personality, still get their own moment in the sun. obviously there is much sadness, but there is warmth and camaraderie too. even some humor, albeit very dark. i’m so glad i read it, i didn’t know what i was missing! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #546,295 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #150 in Military Historical Fiction #670 in War Fiction (Books) #4,844 in Family Saga Fiction | | Book 3 of 6 | The Asian Saga | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (4,962) | | Dimensions | 4.2 x 1.3 x 6.9 inches | | Edition | Mass Market Paperback | | ISBN-10 | 0440145465 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0440145462 | | Item Weight | 8 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 480 pages | | Publication date | September 1, 1986 | | Publisher | Dell | ## Images ![King Rat (Asian Saga) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61W48JqhdmL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ James Clavell's first and best book *by C***S on February 27, 2021* I read King Rat (KR) shortly after it was first published. I remember thinking then that KR was an exciting book, but perhaps far-fetched, even if the author was a POW in Singapore. A decade later I was posted to Singapore, and met a few people who remembered the years of Japanese occupation, and some who were prisoners themselves. It seems that Mr. Clavell was not exaggerating. Having recently read a couple of volumes of the author's Asian Saga, I decided to read KR again. This edition has an informative foreword, in itself very good literary criticism, and some parts in the book which may not have been in the first edition - I am not entirely sure. This time around, the book struck me not merely exciting, but positively dramatic, and many scenes could indeed have been combined into a very dramatic play. As other reviewers have already described KR's background and plot, I would add only that character development is first rate, as are the sections depicting the lives and fates of the prisoners' families. Most of these are bleak, and some are not resolved, but there are few happy endings, apart from the fact that most of the main prisoner characters survived, a great accomplished in view of happened in Changi in 1942-45. It was a horrible place, and KR is its dramatic chronicle. One may perhaps also think of it as the requiem for the British Empire military, and certainly for the UK Army. In any case, I reckon KR is one of the most powerful novels from the Second World War, and I recommend it wholeheartedly. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ surprisingly good! *by S***✨ on March 16, 2023* this is about the inhabitants of a japanese prison camp, and takes place during WW2. i’m not a fan of books about war, and i’ve read too many nonfiction books about the holocaust to enjoy “prison camp fiction”. but i’m rereading james clavell’s asian saga, and this is book four. i’ve started this a couple times, but then i would stop and just move on to ‘noble house’ (book five). so, a few days ago, i decided to give this book one last push, and i read enough of it (maybe fifty/sixty pages) to get hooked on the story. i was doomed! turns out, this is a great book. the best part is the character development, and the complex relationships between the men. these are people just barely surviving, but most have formed tight, small units they can trust. the units work together in order to live, but they play, too. there are running card games, and high stakes manipulation in order to get some fresh coconut, for example. even a few pranks come into play, but they’re extremely mean spirited. they still made me snicker. periodically, the book features a few women - these characters are not well fleshed out, and they’re usually just a story device, imo. it’s odd, bc clavell can write women when he wishes. his first book in this series, shogun, has a wonderful female character, and the women around her, while not given quite as much personality, still get their own moment in the sun. obviously there is much sadness, but there is warmth and camaraderie too. even some humor, albeit very dark. i’m so glad i read it, i didn’t know what i was missing! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sobering and well told *by D***L on July 17, 2024* We talk about the greatest generation with so many stories written and movies made about their sacrifices. It has been a long time since I last read this book and find myself humbled and sobered. There are son many elements In play--the stark class differences of the British, cultural differences between the nationalities, the divisions between ranks, and the roles of the period between men and women. The story is compelling and pulls you along. But then suddenly, after 3+ years of creating their own isolated society with its own rules, the POWs are forced to deal.with the enormous anxiety of returning to their families and normal society and what WILK be left for them. You cannot read this and not come away with extraordinary respect for Clavell and all other POWs, and all those who served their country, both friend and foe. I enjoyed this more the second time than I did the first. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.nl/products/10598768-king-rat-asian-saga](https://www.desertcart.nl/products/10598768-king-rat-asian-saga) --- *Product available on Desertcart Netherlands* *Store origin: NL* *Last updated: 2026-05-19*