Trivia

His novel "Crash" (1973) was rejected by a publishing house reader who wrote, "This author is beyond psychiatric help. Do Not Publish!"

Was revealed that he declined a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honor for "services to literature" in 2003. He told The Sunday Times, "Thousands of medals are given out in the name of a non-existent empire. It makes us look a laughing stock and encourages deference to the crown. I think it is exploited by politicians and always has been." (December 2003)

His novel "Empire of the Sun" (1984), which was turned in to a film of the same name in 1987, was semi-autobiographical. He was interned in a Japanese prison camp near Shanghai during World War II, although he was not separated from his parents as depicted in the book and film.

Studied medicine at Cambridge but never practiced; studied English for a year at London University; joined the Royal Air Force.

Father of television executive Beatrice Ballard.

Was mentor to aspiring young writer Jim Duckett.