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ⓘ About James Clavell
Clavell grew up in England and later became a member of the Royal Artillery. A motorcycle wound caused him to leave the military in 1946. At this time he developed an interest in film. His first writings were screenplays, which included works such as The Fly (1958) and The Large Get Away (1963); along with others). While Clavell proceeded to compose screenplays and to direct movies for many years, in 1960 he also started to compose novels. The author based his first innovative novel, Monarch Rat (1962; recorded on film 1965), on his familiarity with being a detainee of the Japanese throughout World War II. Labors for power and riches and, secondarily, sex and love dominate the themes of his fiction as do the contrast between West and East and male and female conflict.
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? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James Clavell?
Clavell grew up in England and later became a member of the Royal Artillery. A motorcycle wound caused him to leave the military in 1946. At this time he developed an interest in film.
Which James Clavell series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Asian Saga series, the earliest of James Clavell's multi-book series: it opens with King Rat (1962) and runs to 9 books across 1962–2026, ending with Tai-Pan, Part Two (2026).
How many books has James Clavell written?
James Clavell has 11 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1962 and 2026. 9 of them belong to 1 named series — the largest being the Asian Saga series with 9 books — and 2 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should James Clavell's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. James Clavell's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Asian Saga (1962–2026, 9 books).
How are James Clavell's books organised into series?
This guide splits James Clavell's 11 books into 1 named series and 2 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Asian Saga (9 books, 1962–2026).