BOOK

KING RAT by James Clavell.

Paperback, Crest Book

No. 1639; 352 pp. 1963. 75c (Also in Hardcover. Little, Brown & Co., 1962.)

This novel, in most of its scope, has no special interest to the readers of Transvestia. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of writing and deserves to be read on its own merits as a gripping account of life in a prisoner-of-war camp near Singapore. However, it also contains a very perceptive TV story woven in as three short sections and a final half-page. (pp 48-52, 217-221, 253-258 and 343-344).

The story covers the career of a young RAF fight- er pilot as the actress of the camp theatrical company. He was forced into the part, against his wishes (and probably hidden fears), by the senior officers who se- lected him purely because of his youth and appearance rather than any showing of femininity. After bitterly resisting it, he suddenly learned to love the role; and rapidly developed into a transvestite who dressed and acted as a woman at all times. As the sex-symbol for 10,000 starving men, he was worshipped by all despised by all except his two fellow actors and a handful of homosexuals. Despite a life of utter chast- ity (if I read it correctly), he could not convince even his former commander of his integrity. His inner tur- moil is seen only from three outside viewpoints, but it is obvious that the author has considerable under- standing of the problems of TVs. Finally, the libera- tion of the camp meant the end of everything to the "actress," and she ended her life.

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and

If, as is promised on the cover, Columbia Pictur- es converts this book into a movie, it will be interest- ing to see whether they include this little side-story. It would be better to leave it out than do it badly!

SHEILA (30-B-2FPE)

AAAAA

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