oldfogey

I came across this article and it reminded me how good a writer Clavell was. His breadth of scope was wide and he was successful both at film scripts and novels. I think I've read every one of his novels, seen each film he scripted.

http://ios.org/cth--1916-James_Clavell.aspx

__________________
Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt - Herbert Hoover

CBRVFR

Other than "Whirlwind", I liked them all. Shogun is particularly entertaining, though it pissed some decendants of the Mariko character off...

I didn't know he did the screenplay for "The Great Escape."

__________________
Godspeed, # 20
Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

luvtolean

I have not read any of those books.

What I found interesting was this quote:

In te US nowadays, being a businessman, or capitalist is really looked down on. Our heroes are rock stars and surgically enhanced actors, and steriod injected athletes. "Businessman" almost carries a negative connotation. Part of Obama's "populist" plank is to raise the hell out of this group's taxes.

In current China, "businessman" is a hell of a title....

__________________
You got to know, you got to know, the winners say GO-GO-GO...I got no patience, so sick of complacence... -Rage Against the Machine

CBRVFR

These were more like adventurer/risktaker/trader/gamblers who were unbelievably competitive in a way that has no real analog in anyone that I am aware of.

One of my favorite lines in Tai Pan ( and I read it 15 years ago...) occurs when the current (19th century?) protagonist is looking at a portrait of his (18th century?) Scots ancestor while considering an all-or-nothing business move, and 'hears' him say something like "Where's yer balls, laddie? Roll those damned dice!"

__________________
Godspeed, # 20
Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant