The New York Times Book Review
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"Ooka . . . takes the reader along the path of a prisoner of war, from fear of disgrace at home to relief [at the elated welcome they received]. Wayne P. Lammers has provided a seamless translation."
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The Asahi Evening News
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"Translated with masterful elegance. . . . The reader who remembers [Ooka's] Fires on the Plain as a novel of 'manic intensity' . . . may be surprised by the detached, contemplative, and often lighthearted tone, as well as the dry wit of Taken Captive."
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Sasuga News and Reviews
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"Ooka Shohei . . . narrates his experience as a prisoner of war with disoncerting wit, brilliant intellectual prowess, and a deep introspection. Wayne Lammers' translation of this work is a marvel of empathy. . . . He thoroughly conveys the author's fluid pace and style."
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Mangajin
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"Taken Captive is at once an intensely personal revelation as well as a powerful critique of Japanese militarism. . . . [It] reads like a chronicle of death and rebirth. The chronicle reproduces the slow rhythms of his idle days: the sights, sounds, tastes of POW camp life; the long stretches of time spent in contemplation and observation of minutiae. [It] is well served by the elegant, measured English translation, which nicely evokes the sepia tones and slightly old-world, careful prose of the original."
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