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Empire of the Sun

Pages
352
Published
1994

Synopsis

A young British boy's survival through Japanese-occupied Manchuria and China during World War II, told in a fragmented, dreamlike style that blends childhood innocence with the brutality of war.

About the author

J
J. G. Ballard

James Graham Ballard was born and raised in the International Settlement in Shanghai, China to a chemist. In 1943 the Japanese occupied the International Settlement and Ballard's family was sent to the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Center, where they were interned for two years until the end of World War II. In 1946, Ballard went to England with his mother and sister, and stayed on in England after his mother and sister returned to China to rejoin his father. In 1949 he went to King's College, Cambr...