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To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive
 
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To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive (Paperback)

by Ernest Gordon (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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  • This item: To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive by Ernest Gordon

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Product details

  • Paperback: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Zondervan (1 Jun 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007118481
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007118489
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.5 x 1.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 132,257 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #18 in  Books > Biography > Social & Health Issues > Cultural History > Japanese
    #28 in  Books > Biography > Historical > Countries & Regions > Japan
    #31 in  Books > Biography > Historical > Britain > Religious

Product Description

Book Description

The best-selling classic of the power of love and forgiveness in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.


From the Back Cover

Now A Major Motion Picture Starring Robert Carlyle and Kiefer Sutherland

‘Waking from a dream, I suddenly realized where I was: in the Death House–in a prison camp by the River Kwai. I was a prisoner of war, lying among the dead, waiting for the bodies to be carried away so that I might have more room.’
When Ernest Gordon was twenty-four he was captured by the Japanese and forced, with other British prisoners, to build the notorious ‘Railroad of Death’, where nearly 16,000 Prisoners of War gave their life. Faced with the appalling conditions of the prisoners’ camp and the brutality of the captors, he survived to become an inspiring example of the triumph of the human spirit against all odds.

To End All Wars is Ernest Gordon’s gripping true story behind both the Academy Award-winning film The Bridge on the River Kwai starring Alec Guinness and the new film To End All Wars directed by David Cunningham.


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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive
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To End All Wars: A True Story About the Will to Survive and the Courage to Forgive 4.3 out of 5 stars (3)
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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
5 star:
 (2)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Not a typical read..., 13 April 2007
By Douglas John Simpson "he" (scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Just incase anyone didn't know the basic premise of this book, it is essentially the author's reflection and account of his experiences in Japanase Prisoner of War camps during WW2. Bearing this in mind, the first point I'd make is that while Gordon has many great insights and has had experiences beyond what many of us would contemplate , he is not a natural born writer. This isn't a criticism, in fact it probably makes the book a bit easier to read, but you might find his narritive a bit sketchy to begin with.

I found most of the book un-putdownable. The escape attempt described at the beggining is incredibly gripping - it has the hyperbolic tension of a thriller but is even more compelling because real lives were at stake. I could truly identify with the author's angst here. The same can be said for the gritty accounts of the camps themselves and many of the situations that Gordon describes. Here, Gordon's weakness on the prose front serves the book well as his memories appeal far more shockingly and directly than they ever could embellished with arty writing or poetic rhetoric.

The benefit of hindsight is of course utilised - certain conversations and events in the book are obviously simplified or modified to make the picture clearer to the reader. This also lends dimension to the book as the author has had time to think over the events and apply his insights into what he now understands to have been happening at the time.

I'd still point to a few negative aspects though. Firstly, as a general point, the events obviously relate to particular chapters of World War 2 and I didn't feel that the author explained these very well. A lot is said about the military activity at that time and how it resulted in the author being where he was and eventually how he was freed, but it isn't really easy to make sense of, presumably unless you know a fair bit about the war in the pacific and military etiquette. There are a handful of other patches in the book as well, relating to parts of his experience that you'd think Gordon would want to talk more about (I won't spoil any) that he just sort of mildly glazes over.

My biggest issue with the book, which is why it gets 3 and not 4 or 5 stars, is that it really is very heavily preachy about the Christian faith. I know that Gordon had an experience beyond most people's imaginations and has earned the right to share his views, but the fact is that in the format of a novel, there's a point after which that type of writing just becomes laborious and bit frustrating. I understand and agree with the essence of what he's saying, but I became a bit impatient when these passages began to crop up more and more and at times totally cloud over things. I suppose this is a point that Gordon was trying to make, but just don't think that this book will actually give a detailed account of the building of the railroad-it's far more about faith. Finally, I'd say that while obviously a great man, Gordon appears to be a character not without his own flaws. Read and see what you think.

In short- excellent food for thought that will probably move you. It's an incredibly interesting study of the nature of man and is quite pacy and exciting in places- which precipitates a bigger shock when you consider that it all really happened. Against this overall wealth of experience, however, is the author's obvious discomfort with creative writing, some randomly placed, poorly explained patches in the narrative and the at times superflous salutations to Christianity, which, while not inherently undesirable, just don't work especially well in the form that author has chosen.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Will blow your mind!, 5 Oct 2006
By Carol Parks "Carol" (N.Ireland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I am not a great reader but I couldn't put this book down. I got it on the back of watching the film adaptation of the book. I loved the film but it dosen't do the whole story, which is contained in the book, justice. Will challenge and change the way you think.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Favourable Review, 10 Sep 2009
I took this book on holiday to read after another Author (Philip Yancey) had recommended it in one of his books. I couldn't believe what an amazing story it was. I found it fascinating that these men went from a life of complete self-centredness to being selfless in their caring of others after they witnessed a few Christian's self sacrifice for their fellow man. I never re-read books but this is one I will (once I get it back off all my friends). A fabulous Christian book.
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