Burma Boy

By Biyi Bandele-Thomas

Book Overview

It's winter 1944 and the Second World War is entering its most crucial state. A few months ago fourteen-year-old Ali Banana was a blacksmith's apprentice in his rural hometown in West Africa; now he's trekking through the Burmese jungle. Led by the unforgettably charismatic Sergeant Damisa, the unit has been given orders to go behind enemy lines and wreak havoc. But Japanese snipers lurk behind every tree--and even if the unit manages to escape, infection and disease lie in wait. Homesick and weary, the men of D-Section Thunder Brigade refuse to give up.

Taut and immediate, The King's Rifle is the first novel to depict the experiences of black African soldiers in the Second World War. This is a story of real life battles, of the men who made the legend of the Chindits, the unconventional, quick-strike division of the British Army in India. Brilliantly executed, this vividly realized account details the madness, sacrifice, and dark humor of that war's most vicious battleground. It is also the moving story of a boy trying to live long enough to become a man.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061582662
• ISBN13: 9780061582660
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A novel that honors the soldiers in WWII's Burma campaign as well as any history

This coming-of-age novel of a Nigerian soldier, humorously named Ali Banana, in the Burma campaign during World War II is simply marvelous ... enchanting ... charming ... and unforgettable. It's comic and tragic. The merry verve of Nigerian English infuses the dialogs. So does the banter of Hausas, Yorubas, Ibos, and Tivs thrown together in the same unit -- and the reactions of their sometimes perplexed British officers...

Accurate and well written fictional account of African soldiers in the Burma Campaign

Biyi Bandele (1967-) is an award-winning playwright who was born in Nigeria and currently lives in London. He has also written four novels, including The King's Rifle, which was originally published as Burma Boy in 2007 in the UK. The King's Rifle is a historical novel about black African soldiers who served in World War II in the Burma Campaign against the Japanese. The characters are based on actual participants in the...

Chindit-22

I wish it was longer. Often gruesome/painful it is also a funny, withering look at a little known part of WWII. Lots of echoes of Catch-22, less of Evelyn Waugh (the publisher evokes Waugh in their promotional copy). I look forward to reading more books by this writer.

Sadly Noble

After reading histories of the Pacific theater in World War 2, I was amazed by the commitment of men from the West African nations. Truly it is a topic that requires further exploration in both fiction and nonfiction. The King's Rifle personalized the experience of these proud recruits and does a great job uncovering their cultural and language differences even as they band together to fight the Japanese. It is a short novella...

An Unknown Soldier Is Heard

In The King's Rife by Biyi Bandele, we are taken into the maddening world of World War II African soldiers who fought for the British against the Japanese in Burma. These soldiers were part the Allied Special Forces, known as Chindits, named after the Burmese mythical winged lion. While this was a diverse group of soldiers, little is known about the African soldiers and their contributions to the war effort. The story also...