Through Eastern Windows

First published in 1949, in By Eastern Windows author William H. McDougall recalls his experiences of his three years spent in prison camps in Sumatra. “By Eastern Windows is filled with stories of the heroism and sacrifice of priests, doctors and simple men, as well as of the disgraceful behaviour of deadbeats and chiselers. It is written throughout in a spirit of humility and humble faith. It packs a wallop...”—Orville Prescott, New York Times “...By Eastern Windows...is a book that deals with the spirit of mankind at war and is directed to the spirit of mankind in peace. Everyone who reads this book upon completion surely must agree with the author that ‘there is no possible disarmament except in the hearts of men.’”—Grace S. Nutley, New York Eagle “...It is an amazing tale with humor lighting tragedy and heroism marking what might have been the sheerest of animal existences. By Eastern Windows is perhaps the best book of its sort to date in that it is neither so objectively done that it misses the ever-present human element, nor so sentimentally reported that it fails to show both sides of the Japanese captors as they went somewhat bewilderedly about their tasks in a losing fight.”—T.M.W., Boston Traveler