Biography

Richard Mason is best-known as the author of "The World of Suzie Wong", which became both a Broadway production starring William Shatner and a successful film.

He was born in Hale, England, educated in boarding schools, and served in the RAF in World War II as a Japanese translator. His second novel, "The Wind Cannot Read", was made into a movie, set in India, for which he wrote the screenplay some ten years after publication. His fourth novel, "The Shadow and the Peak, set in Jamaica, was made into the 1958 film "Passionate Summer". However, he is best-known for the novel "The World of Suzie Wong" which was inspired by a visit to Hong Kong. The movie by the same name starred William Holden and Nancy Kwan (which was her first film appearance).

"The Wind Cannot Read" was based on his experiences serving with the RAF in India and Burma during World War II.

He is sometimes confused with Australian producer/director Richard Mason (Richard Mason II), who was responsible for "Winter of Our Dreams", "Robbery Under Arms", and other Australian films. He was probably also not the Richard Mason who appeared in "Birdy", as he was essentially retired in Rome after his last novel, "The Fever Tree", appeared in 1962.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ken Roberts

The author of The World of Suzie Wong, he wrote five other novels, two as Richard Lakin: The Body Fell on Berlin, a mystery; The Shadow and the Peak, made into the film Passionate Summer; The Wind Cannot Read, made into a film starring Dirk Bogarde; Angel Take Care, another mystery; and The Fever Tree, a story of espionage set in India and Nepal.

His books "The Wind Cannot Read" (1947) and "The Shadow and the Peak" (1950) were based on his experiences serving with the RAF in Burma during World War II.