James Clavell

Profession: Novelist and Screenwriter

Biography: James Clavell was an Australian-born British novelist, screenwriter, director, and World War II veteran. He is widely known for his series of novels collectively called the Asian Saga, and for his work on films such as The Great Escape (1963). His time as a prisoner of war during World War II greatly influenced his writing, particularly his novel King Rat (1962).

Enlisting in the Royal Artillery at the onset of World War II, Clavell was captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war in Changi Prison, Singapore. The prison experience would later inform his work.

After the war, a motorcycle accident steered him away from military service toward the University of Birmingham and matrimony with April Stride, an actress who provided his entry point into the film industry.

Clavell initially worked in film distribution and then screenwriting, penning the screenplay for The Fly (1958). He also directed films, including Five Gates to Hell (1959). With the Writers Guild strike in 1960, he turned to novel-writing, producing King Rat (1962), which established his reputation as a novelist.

He continued his screenwriting career with credits including The Great Escape (1963) and ventured back into directing with To Sir, with Love (1967), which became a hit.

Meanwhile, Clavell began writing his Asian Saga. The series includes titles such as Tai-Pan (1966), Shōgun (1975), the latter of which was adapted into a popular TV miniseries in 1980. The character Peter Marlowe, featured in his books, is an alter ego for Clavell, reflecting his own wartime experiences.

Clavell became a U.S. citizen in 1963 and was known for his admiration of Ayn Rand's philosophy, which influenced his works.

Born: October 10, 1921
Birthplace: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Generation: Greatest Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rooster
Star Sign: Libra

Died: September 7, 1994 (aged 72)
Cause of Death: Stroke