James Clavell

James Clavell was a British author of historical fiction, screenwriter, and director, born as David Dumaresq Clavell in Sydney, Australia on March 10, 1924. After his education in Portsmouth, he served as a young artillery officer in the Royal Navy during World War II. His life took a significant turn when he was captured by the Japanese at the Fall of Singapore, an experience that later became the basis for his bestselling novel "King Rat."

Clavell is widely recognized for his exceptional work in portraying Asian civilizations in his fiction. His admiration for Asian culture is reflected in his popular Asian Saga series of novels, including "Tai-Pan," "Shogun," "Noble House," and "Gai-Jin," as well as their televised adaptations. In addition to his successful career as a novelist, Clavell made significant contributions to the film industry by writing screenplays for notable films such as "The Fly" and "The Great Escape."

Clavell's career was not only influenced by his personal experiences but also by his admiration for other talented individuals. He was an avid fan of Ayn Rand and expressed his appreciation by sending her a copy of "Noble House" with the inscription, "This is for Ayn Rand – one of the real, true talents on this earth for which many, many thanks." After living in Vancouver and Los Angeles for several years, Clavell eventually settled in Switzerland, where he passed away on September 6, 1994.
Asian Saga Books
# Title Year
1 King Rat 1962
2 Tai-Pan 1966
3 Shogun 1975
4 Noble House 1981
5 Whirlwind 1986
6 Gai-Jin 1993
7 Escape 1995
Asian Saga Series in Chronological Order
# Title Year
1 Shogun 1975
2 Tai-Pan 1966
3 Gai-Jin 1993
4 King Rat 1962
5 Noble House 1981
6 Whirlwind 1986
7 Escape 1995
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 The Little Samurai 1986
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 The Children's Story 1981