Book Review: Miracle on the River Kwai

Do you have a deep interest in World War 2? Have you been wanting a historically accurate perspective that tells what really happened? Then you might want to read Ernest Gordon’s book Miracle on the River Kwai. Ernest Gordon was a P.O.W. of the Japanese, and one of the few who survived. Ernest wrote one of the greatest WW2 books we have; though he once said this of Miracle on the River Kwai, “I never seriously considered writing a book about my experience as a prisoner of war of the Japanese until it was suggested…” Being as Gordon wasn’t a writer his book is not filled with dramatic writing or exciting adventure, it is simply an account of what happened. Gordon records what happened from his point of view, with the help of certain accounts from fellow prisoners and others. Gordon does not try to make his book dramatic or even necessarily descriptive, yet the goriness and awfulness of the war come out through the facts he records. The truths of the Japanese prison camps were far from pretty. That’s what Miracle on the River Kwai is: a statement of the bloody truth. Yet Gordon also portrays another face of the camps. A face of hope, unity, and shining beauty in the midst of darkness. He talks of kindness, love, and self-sacrifice coming back to life during a time of great oppression. Ultimately his book speaks of the saving grace of Christ sweeping through the people in those prison camps.
Ernest Gordon starts off his book with an excerpt of his experience in the ‘death house’ of the Chungkai prison camp. Then he goes back to when he first went off to war. Ernest went from Ireland with the 93rd highlanders of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders down to the battlefront in the south Asian countries. The book then proceeds through Gordon’s attempted escape from the war and his capture, all the way to his liberation and return home. Before Gordon was captured by the Japanese he and a crew of about six others, from all branches of the military, joined up and made a plan. They bought a prahu called the ‘Setia Berganti’ from local Malays. On this vessel the group of men managed to sail away from the failing English forces in Malaysia. He and his friends were well supplied, prepared and experienced. The group’s trip seemed to be going well. They were headed for India and freedom, though at one point they considered taking up residency on a little island out in the Indian Ocean. Their voyage ended shortly after their island stop. They were spotted and captured by the Japanese only a couple of weeks after their departure from the war zone. Afterwards the group was transported back to the Singapore coast, and then to the prison camp of Changi. At Changi the signs of humanity and civilization began to die: people began to degrade into selfishness and chaos. From there Gordon was moved to Banpong in Thailand. Conditions in these camps were dirty and degrading. The rations were meager and consisted mainly of nutrient drained rice. The P.O.W.s often had to build their own shelters at these camps. Men descended into madness and every man looked out only for himself. They attacked each other for scraps from the Japanese officer’s tables. They picked valuables off the dead. No one cared for the sick and dying, who were so abundant. Cruelty and selfishness were the order of the day. Japanese guards would beat the prisoners for any infraction. After Banpong Gordon and some of his fellows were moved to Chungkai. At Chungkai the prisoners had to build their own camp again. Conditions didn’t improve after this move, if anything they only got worse. Along with the already degraded state of humanity the P.O.W.s now were being forced to build a six year long building project in 12 months: the bridge and railroad over the River Kwai. Conditions at Chungkai seemed to continually get worse then slowly things seemed to change for the better. Stories of self-sacrifice and the kindness of fellow P.O.W.s spread among the camp. These stories started to inspire kindness among all P.O.W.s and soon conditions began to improve. Not because the rations were bigger. Not because there was less disease and death, but because men were regaining their humanity. Compassion and trust were starting to spread throughout the camp at Chungkai. Because of the kindness of two friends, Dusty and Dinty, Gordon lived through several diseases during this time. Eventually a ministry was started. Those healthy enough to get around smuggled in meat, eggs, and greens from the local villages and gave them to the sick and new arrivals. Artificial legs were invented form the surrounding jungle materials. Those who couldn’t get around made little gifts for others. A general air of hospitality spread throughout the camp. University classes and a church were started. An orchestra came about. Concerts and shows were put on, and out of the darkness came hope. Eventually the war ended, and the P.O.W.s that had lived returned home and struggled to get back to a normal life.
Miracle on the River Kwai is an excellent book that tells of the true nature of the Japanese prison camps. It is a very good read, though the language is a little confusing being as it was written in older Ireland English. Therefore some of the terminology is a bit confusing. Overall the book is very enjoyable, but not suggested for younger readers as it is quiet graphic. Ernest Gordon’s book invokes much thought though, making it a worthwhile read.