A bar of shadow

by Laurens van der Post

The short story that became the basis for the 1983 film staring David Bowie, Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence".

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1956

About the author

Sir Laurens Jan van der Post was a 20th Century South African Afrikaner author of many books, farmer, war hero, political adviser to British heads of government, close friend of Prince Charles, godfather of Prince William, educator, journalist, humanitarian, philosopher, explorer, and conservationist.

Reviews

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The end of the book is incredibly moving. It talks about one man's ability to forgive. And one man's ability to see the heart of another despite his wrong-doing. It ends with the quote, "why must we always be too late". Moving in this age when we can see what we need to do yet it does not happen. But as an individual we can choose to do what needs to be done despite the swell of others moving the other way.

[Tim Kimball · Rating 2 out of 5]

story tells more of van der post that of the pow experience under the japanese army. the author was that contradiction, a liar who WAS brave, the would be friend of kings, molester of young girls, van der post projected by himself onto a fictional version of his actual tormentors.

interesting contrast with dunlap or toosey, who did forgive their japanese captors but never excused the intentional cruelty [and understood the unavoidable].

dunlap, a pow with van der post, admired him and his conduct as a pow. dunlap and toosey drew vastly different conclusions, tho none was overwhelmed with hatred.

fortunately the story is quite short. it was made into a bad movie, 'merry christmas mr lawrence,' starring david lawrence.

most [all?] pow accounts tell of ocassional sympathetic japanese and korean guards, none of whom seem to have been punished for their humanity by their superiors.

[Jason Prodoehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was short and powerful. It tells the story of two former Prisoners of War (POWs) from World War II. They reminisce about their time in a Japanese POW camp. Laurens van der Post is an exceptionally insightful writer. It is a quick read, but has several passages that will have you really thinking about what you think and feel. This has gorgeous language, and has an emotional depth and complexity that will astound you.

[Jeremy Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Profound. I’d measure it as an exponential. A short recount, with deep and poignant observations of man, man’s nature, life and death. And one’s reaction to them. Told through a man’s experience with a WW2 Japanese prison NCO.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Van der Post looks for the psychological roots of relationships between prisoners of war and their captors among other themes. His writing made me think of a poor imitation of Joseph Conrad. At times he was able to bring alive the Malaysian tropics, but at other moments his descriptions were repetitious and flat.