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Empire of the Sun

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( 22,232 ratings, 1,342 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard is a poignant coming-of-age story set during World War II in Shanghai. It follows a young British boy, Jim, who is separated from his parents and experiences the harsh realities of war, capturing his journey of survival, loss, and resilience. Through Jim's eyes, the reader witnesses the collapse of his privileged world and his struggle to adapt in a chaotic and war-torn environment.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by gripping, semi-autobiographical stories that delve into the complexities of war and survival from a unique perspective. Set during World War II, it offers a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of resilience, adaptation, and the loss of innocence. Fans of historical fiction that blends intense personal experiences with broader historical events may find this narrative particularly compelling.

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Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience – classics which will endure for generations to come..

Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Introducing the Collins Modern Classics, a series featuring some of the most significant books of recent times, books that shed light on the human experience – classics which will endure for generations to come.

Like everything else since the war, the sky was in a state of change.

Based on J. G. Ballard’s own childhood, this is the extraordinary account of a boy’s life in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Trapped in a prison camp and separated from his parents, Jim is witness to the death, starvation and chaos of the Second World War. His story is a mesmerising vision of a world thrown utterly out of joint.

Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and shortlisted for the Booker, Empire of the Sun is an astounding, hypnotically compelling novel by which the twentieth century will be not only remembered, but judged.

‘Remarkable … form, content and style fuse with complete success … one of the great war novels of the 20th century’ William Boyd

Series: Collins Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Empire of the Sun by J. G. Ballard is highly praised for its extraordinary and remarkable depiction of a young boy's journey through the horrors of war. The blend of horror and humanity creates an unforgettable narrative, and the book's fusion of history, autobiography, and imagination has been lauded as an incredible literary achievement. It stands out as one of the great war novels of the 20th century, offering a gripping insight into the helplessness of war.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008555368

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 May 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Fourth Estate Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 352

About the Author

J. G. Ballard was born in 1930 in Shanghai. After internment in a civilian prison camp, his family returned to England in 1946. His 1984 bestseller ‘Empire of the Sun’ won the Guardian Fiction Prize and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. His controversial novel ‘Crash’ was made into a film by David Cronenberg. His autobiography ‘Miracles of Life’ was published in 2008, and a collection of interviews with the author, ‘Extreme Metaphors’, was published in 2012. J. G. Ballard passed away in 2009.

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