Charles Steel took part in two military disasters - the Fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation, and the Fall of Singapore. Shortly before the latter, he married Louise. Within days of being captured by the Japanese, he began writing a weekly letter to his new bride as means of keeping in touch with her in his mind, for the Japanese forbade all writing of letters and diaries. By the time he was liberated 3 1/2 years later, he had written and hidden some 180 letters, to which were added a further 20 post-liberation letters. Part love-letter, part diary these unique letters intended for Louise's eyes only describe the horror of working as a slave on the Burma - Siam Railway and, in particular, the construction of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. It is also an uplifting account of how man can rise above adversity and even secretly get back at his captors by means of 'creative accounting'!. Now, we can share the appalling and inspiring experiences of this remarkable man.

本書の真髄は、死と隣り合わせの極限状態にありながら、愛する妻へ宛てた「禁じられた手紙」という形式そのものにあります。それは単なる戦争の記録ではありません。沈黙を強いられた捕虜が、文字を綴ることで精神の自由を確保し、孤独な闇の中で愛という細い糸を懸命に手繰り寄せた、あまりにも純粋で痛切な「対話」の軌跡なのです。 地獄のような泰緬鉄道建設という過酷な現実に対し、著者は密かな抵抗とユーモア、そして尽きることのない人間性を持って立ち向かいます。奴隷労働の惨状と、それとは対照的な「心の気高さ」が織りなすコントラストは、読者の魂を激しく揺さぶるでしょう。逆境を生き抜く意志が、言葉にいかに強靭な翼を与えるか。本書は、人間の尊厳を証明する比類なき愛と救済の記録です。