A very worthy story, made tolerable by the author's matter-of-fact rendition. Occasionally soaring.

A FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF WESTERNERS LIVING UNDER JAPANESE RULE IN A JAPANESE PRISON CAMP

When the Second World War broke out in the East, the author was a popular author, living a privileged colonial life in Borneo, with her civil servant husband and toddler son. Refusing opportunities to escape back to the USA, she found herself in a series of Japanese camps with other women and children . Ms Keith relays everyday life for them - ever-decreasing rations, only made tolerable by smuggling - violent punishments, disease and the fear for their menfolk in an adjoining camp, as the Japanese seek to get rid of their 'proudery and arrogance.' Yet despite the war, there were instances of extreme kindness, as some Japanese smuggled food to their captives, such that Ms Keith was motivated to give a written testimonial to one guard to protect him against the Allies. Wonderfully enlivened by little b/w line drawings by the author,
Great read that brings the War to life.

I ordered this excellent book having seen the movie version, first as a child approximately 60 years ago (in a theater) and then in the last year on Turner Classic Movies. It tells the story of one family's, and their friends' and associates', resistance to the terrors of captivity inflicted upon them by a conquering, invading army. Those terrors included starvation, beatings, and the arbitrary use of force that only could exist in a slave and master relationship. And yes, it is the story of human endurance under horrific circumstances.

I read this book as a young woman. It was one of my dad's books and we hauled it (and boxes and boxes of others) all over the country from move to move. Then somewhere along the way it disappeared. I ordered this one, As I opened the box I let out a gasp! I was holding a piece of my past...brought tears to my eyes. I wondered if it was MY book? It's in really good condition. Excellent read. History, but not dry. The movie is great too. Claudette Colbert does a great job.

It is a fantastic realistic book about being POW's in a Japanese prison camp. Agnes Keith for various reasons was able to save her life and the life of son.

She was actually able to meet her husband and three of them led a normal life after WWII.

When the Second World War broke out in the East, the author was a popular author, living a privileged colonial life in Borneo, with her civil servant husband and toddler son. Refusing opportunities to escape back to the USA, she found herself in a series of Japanese camps with other women and children . Ms Keith relays everyday life for them - ever-decreasing rations, only made tolerable by smuggling - violent punishments, disease and the fear for their menfolk in an adjoining camp, as the Japanese seek to get rid of their 'proudery and arrogance.'
Yet despite the war, there were instances of extreme kindness, as some Japanese smuggled food to their captives, such that Ms Keith was motivated to give a written testimonial to one guard to protect him against the Allies.
Wonderfully enlivened by little b/w line drawings by the author,
Great read that brings the War to life. ( )

Life in a Japanese prison camp in Borneo. Humanity and inhumanity of war. Author writes fairly about everyone, including the Japanese guards. Astonishing and touching book, and one I'm surprised hasn't been heard of more. ( )

Agnes Newton Keith is what you would call "plucky." She is a straight shooter even in the presense of pain and suffering. As prisoners of war from January 19th, 1942 to September 11th, 1945 Keith, her husband Harry, and their infant son George are held captive by the Japanese on the island North Borneo. Because of Keith's reputation as a writer (previously publishing a book called Land Below the Wind) Keith is commissioned by Japanese Commander Major Suga to write "The Life and Times of an Internee" as proof his prisoners did not suffer in captivity. He wanted to convey actual happiness. Keith writes an account for Major Suga but at the same time she needs to tell her truth. Three Came Home is her written-in-secret journal of nearly three years as a prisoner. It documents not only her survival but her determination to be a good mother to George and a good wife to Henry. ( )