Richard Mason, a renowned author, is most famously associated with the novel "The World of Suzie Wong", which was adapted into a Broadway production starring William Shatner and a successful film.
Born in Hale, England, Mason received his education at boarding schools before serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II as a Japanese translator.
His second novel, "The Wind Cannot Read", was later adapted into a movie set in India, with Mason himself writing the screenplay nearly a decade after its initial publication.
Mason's fourth novel, "The Shadow and the Peak", was set in Jamaica and was adapted into the 1958 film "Passionate Summer".
However, it is his novel "The World of Suzie Wong" that has left the most lasting impact, inspired by his visit to Hong Kong. The film adaptation, starring William Holden and Nancy Kwan, marked Kwan's first film appearance.
"The Wind Cannot Read" was deeply personal, drawing from Mason's experiences serving with the RAF in India and Burma during World War II.
Mason's work is sometimes confused with that of Australian producer/director Richard Mason (Richard Mason II),who was responsible for films such as "Winter of Our Dreams" and "Robbery Under Arms".
Additionally, Mason is unlikely to be the Richard Mason who appeared in the film "Birdy", as he was largely retired in Rome after the publication of his last novel, "The Fever Tree", in 1962.
