What follows is the story of two British officers whose spirit the Japanese try to break. Yet out of all the violence and misery strange bonds are forged between prisoners - and their gaolers. In a battle for survival that becomes a battle of contrasting wills and philosophies as the intensity of the men's relationships develop.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most profound book that I have ever read.,
By colleen@kagi.com (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Seed and the Sower (Hardcover)
Many years ago, I saw the movie version of this novel. It was titled "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence." I liked the movie, but it really felt kind of incomplete, but the story was moving enough that when I ran across the book, I decided to read it. It is difficult with words to convey how very moving this story was. If you are already familiar with Mr Van der Post through other works, you'll understand. His view of the world is so positive, even in the face of great sorrow and suffering, he maintained such dignity and hope. I will never forget this book. I read a great great deal, but have never run across another book as profoundly moving as this one.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A conflict of philosphy and culture,
By A Customer
This review is from: Seed and the Sower (Hardcover)
This novel excels due to its ability to explain and justify the Japanese psyche during WWII. To use Sir Laurens van der Post's perfect words: 'The thing you mustn't forget about Hara,' he had said, 'is that he is not an individual or for that matter even really a man.' He had gone on to say that Hara was the living myth, the expression in human form, the personification of the intense, inner vision which, far down in their unconscious, keeps the Japanese people together and shapes and compels their thinking and behaviour. We should not forget two thousand and seven hundred full cycles of his sun-goddess' rule burnt into him. He was sure no one could be more faithful and responsive to all the imperceptible murmurings of Japan's archaic and submerged racial soul than he. Hara was humble enough to accept implicitly the promptings of his national spirit. He was a simple, uneducated country lad with a primitive integrity unassailed by higher education, and really believed all the myths and legends of the past so deeply that he would not hesitate to kill for them..... 'But just look in his eyes, there is nothing ignoble or insincere there: only an ancient light, refuelled, quickened and burning brightly. There is something about the fellow I rather like and respect.' That piece moved me the first time I read this most engaging book, and over the years I find myself drawn to that passage. What a wonderful explanation of the madness that overcame an entire nation! Despite his long, long sentences, do yourself a favour and read this wonderful story of betrayal and hope.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deeply moving and powerful literature.,
This review is from: Seed and the Sower (Hardcover)
Rooted in the soil of South africa and flowering under a japanese sun this book is like a collection of separate stories brought together in a unified theme of cultural misunderstanding. The childlike Hara, an archetypical japanese camp beast, his noble officer immovable as a rock, Celliers the unbreakable stiff upper lipped british officer and between them all, trying to make some kind of sense, the liberal figure of Lawerence. The stories of youth in South Africa and the growing appreciation of the tall athletic son for his grotesque brother who has hands that are the soul of Africa, who finds life where others see only death, a man who knows what Isac Denisen calls the Song of Africa. Magical stuff!
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