KING RAT

Delacorte Press, New York, 1962.  ISBN 0-440-04392-1.  Hard cover, 363 pages.  Very good; black boards with gold lettering and publisher’s logo on spine; light edge wear, binding sound with a bit of a lean, front board slightly bowed.  Dust jacket shows light cover wear, a few very short edge tears, bit of creasing at spine ends, and a touch of age-toning.  Book interior clean and unmarked with lightly toned pages.  Believe this to be a book club edition with no price on jacket and code on lower rear panel, although inner flaps do not state book club edition and there are no book club indicators on rear board.  Copyright page lists 1962 as the copyright and only date, then shows an ISBN.  Appears to be an uncommon book club edition.  ‘Changi prison camp, set on the eastern tip of Singapore Island, is Hell.  It is filled mainly with English and Australian soldiers, and a scattering of New Zealanders, Canadians and Americans – the remnants of the armed forces of the Far East campaign.  The control of the camp has been turned over to the inmates.  There is no escape from Changi. … Within the crowded cell blocks of Changi there is a man known as The King.  When others starve, this American corporal is fed.  When others are naked, he is clothed. … In the face of unbearable adversity…using only raw physical courage, willingness to exploit any opportunity, and his nearly perfect understanding of the frailties and breaking points of both his fellow captives and his captors, The King lives on and grows in power.’ (from flaps)