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.

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.

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.

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've ever heard of."

Buckley is an American political commentator, nonfiction writer, and novelist. In the following tribute, he reminisces about his friendship with Clavell.

In the obituary below, the critic provides an overview of Clavell's career.

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, Clavell treats Japanese history in a stereotypical and sensationalistic manner.

In the following review, Groseclose praises Clavell's Thrump-o-moto for its appeal to adults as well as children.

Despite the enormous success of his Asian books, James Clavell … seems equally preoccupied at the moment with American politics…. Indeed, his "The Children's Story" … has the overtones of a campaign speech on foreign policy; the "speech" has already caused considerable controversy, and can now be expected to cause more. (p. 47) He wrote it in one "magical" day, compared with an average of three years for each of his last two novels—...

[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 than the twenty-three minutes of its action, but during the short duration of the drama, events take place which leave the reader uncomfortably thoughtful about severe current social ills and parental irresponsibility in the intellectual development of their children. The Children's Story details the possible consequences of that neglec...