In the following review, Fremont-Smith traces the publication history of The Children's Story and offers a negative assessment of its literary, political, and social value.
Once upon a time&...
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In the obituary below, the critic provides an overview of Clavell's career.
James Clavell, the author of Tai-Pan, Shogun, Noble House and other richly detailed historical novels set in the F...
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Buckley is an American political commentator, nonfiction writer, and novelist. In the following tribute, he reminisces about his friendship with Clavell.
A dozen years ago Chilton Williamson, at th...
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In the following essay, based on an interview with Clavell, Teachout discusses Clavell's ideas on writing, political views, and his novels, particularly Noble House.
At 18, Sub-Lieutenant Ja...
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In the following review, Groseclose praises Clavell's Thrump-o-moto for its appeal to adults as well as children.
Has success bored James Clavell?
How else can one explain the author�...
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In the following essay based on an interview with Clavell, Crosland discusses Clavell's experiences as a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II and his writing career.
James Clavell wa...
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Edwards is an American educator and critic. In the following excerpt, he faults Whirlwind for its lack of appeal and believability, lamenting that the novel "has nothing to do with any life I&#...
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Notehelfer is an American educator, historian, and critic who specializes in Japanese history. In the following review of Gai-jin, he asserts that despite Clavell's gifts as a storyteller, Clav...
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Critical Essay by Paul Bernstein
Despite the enormous success of his Asian books, James Clavell … seems equally preoccupied at the moment with American politics…. Indeed, his "Th...
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Critical Essay by R. V. Williams
[The Children's Story] represents a new sort of work for the author of King Rat and Shogun. Frankly didactic and with an explicit moral, it can be read in less...
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Critical Review by Eliot Fremont-Smith
