Twilight World

By Werner Herzog | Publisher: Random House

About the book

In 1944, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda is ordered to hold Lubang Island in the Philippines at all costs, and he obeys until long after the war is over.

The Twilight World follows Onoda as he wages a private war in the jungle for thirty years after Japan’s surrender in the Second World War. Convinced that every leaflet announcing peace is enemy propaganda, he survives on stolen rice, wild fruit and dwindling hope, watching his comrades die or surrender one by one.

As decades pass and the world moves on without him, Onoda’s devotion to the Imperial army traps him between duty and delusion. The enemy he fights is no longer American soldiers, but time itself.

Based on real events, The Twilight World is twentieth-century historical fiction about obedience, pride and the slow unravelling of a man who cannot let go.

'An enthralling novel that explores the nature of time and warfare with great mastery' Mail on Sunday

'Herzog. . .brilliantly blends fact and fiction in this fever dream of a novel' Daily Mail

'A literary jewel set to sparkle against the backdrop of his monumental career in cinema' i

Editions of Twilight World

Hardcover
ISBN 9781847927231
Paperback
ISBN 9781529116243
EBook
ISBN 9781529193695

Read an Excerpt

In 1944, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda is ordered to hold Lubang Island in the Philippines at all costs, and he obeys until long after the war is over.

The Twilight World follows Onoda as he wages a private war in the jungle for thirty years after Japan’s surrender in the Second World War. Convinced that every leaflet announcing peace is enemy propaganda, he survives on stolen rice, wild fruit and dwindling hope, watching his comrades die or surrender one by one.

As decades pass and the world moves on without him, Onoda’s devotion to the Imperial army traps him between duty and delusion. The enemy he fights is no longer American soldiers, but time itself.

Based on real events, The Twilight World is twentieth-century historical fiction about obedience, pride and the slow unravelling of a man who cannot let go.

'An enthralling novel that explores the nature of time and warfare with great mastery' Mail on Sunday

'Herzog. . .brilliantly blends fact and fiction in this fever dream of a novel' Daily Mail

'A literary jewel set to sparkle against the backdrop of his monumental career in cinema' i

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Twilight World about?

In 1944, Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda is ordered to hold Lubang Island in the Philippines at all costs, and he obeys until long after the war is over.

The Twilight World follows Onoda as he wages a private war in the jungle for thirty years after Japan’s surrender in the Second World War. Convinced that every leaflet announcing peace is enemy propaganda, he survives on stolen rice, wild fruit and dwindling hope, watching his comrades die or surrender one by one.

As decades pass and the world moves on without him, Onoda’s devotion to the Imperial army traps him between duty and delusion. The enemy he fights is no longer American soldiers, but time itself.

Based on real events, The Twilight World is twentieth-century historical fiction about obedience, pride and the slow unravelling of a man who cannot let go.

'An enthralling novel that explores the nature of time and warfare with great mastery' Mail on Sunday

'Herzog. . .brilliantly blends fact and fiction in this fever dream of a novel' Daily Mail

'A literary jewel set to sparkle against the backdrop of his monumental career in cinema' i

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Twilight World?

Fiction > Historical fiction

Where can I read a sample of Twilight World?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781847927231

How long is Twilight World and how many pages does it have?

Twilight World has 144 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Twilight World?

Werner Herzog

Who is the Publisher of the book Twilight World?

Random House

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Twilight World is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781847927231) and paperback(ISBN 9781529116243) and ebook(ISBN 9781529193695)

Where can I buy Twilight World online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Twilight World from below

Where can I buy Twilight World?