James Clavell - excellent popular writer

oldfogey · 06-18-2008, 03:31 AM

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

CBRVFR · 06-18-2008, 08:54 AM

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."

luvtolean · 06-18-2008, 09:42 AM

I have not read any of those books.

What I found interesting was this quote:

Quote:

What’s even more surprising in this day and age, his heroes were often businessmen.

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....

CBRVFR · 06-18-2008, 10:36 AM

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!"

06-18-2008, 03:31 AM	#1
oldfogey Senior member Join Date: 12-14-2006 Location: St Albans, UK Age: 55 Bike(s): Honda VFR800i, BSA Posts: 980	James Clavell - excellent popular writer 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 __________________ Nothing is more obstinate than a fashionable consensus. - Margaret Thatcher

06-18-2008, 08:54 AM	#2
CBRVFR Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 55 Bike(s): VFR750 SV650 TZ250 Posts: 4,549	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." __________________ "I tell ya, I'm feeling pretty good right now, I'm only five-foot-five, but I'm feeling five-foot-eight." Chris Carr, after breaking the motorcycle land speed record in 2007 Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

06-18-2008, 10:36 AM	#4
CBRVFR Godspeed, #20 Join Date: 12-13-2006 Age: 55 Bike(s): VFR750 SV650 TZ250 Posts: 4,549	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!" __________________ "I tell ya, I'm feeling pretty good right now, I'm only five-foot-five, but I'm feeling five-foot-eight." Chris Carr, after breaking the motorcycle land speed record in 2007 Rich Herald, the Gentle Giant

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