American writer and screenwriter James Clavell: biography, creativity

Being the author of a series of popular novels known as the "Asian Saga" written between 1962 and 1993, and a talented screenwriter, Clavel often explored the influence of East and West on one another in his creative works. The heroes of his works try to understand the culture and philosophy of Asia. Conflicting relations and conflicts on a national basis, which always lead to human casualties, are shown in his works, as James Clavell remained an ardent individualist and anti-fascist until the last days. Great influence on the writer's work was provided by experiences and deprivations transferred to captivity. His unbending character was formed during the Second World War, the events of which served as an impetus for the creation of spirit-strong characters, in many respects similar to the author.

Childhood

In the city of Sydney on October 10, 1924, the family of the captain of the British Royal Navy Richard Clavell replenished - he had a son James Clavell. The biography of the future writer was full of various changes from an early age. When the baby was only nine months old, the family moved to England. By the nature of the service Captain Clavell often had to change his residence, so James had occasion to visit many port cities. His special impression was made by Hong Kong and his father's stories about the adventures on the Yangtze River. Then the boy became interested in oriental culture and learning foreign languages.

Youth

Raised on the stories of his father and grandfather, who was also an officer of the Royal Navy, James Clavell dreamed of a military career. He imagined how to plow the ocean and perform feats, like the heroes of his favorite literary works. After graduating from high school in Portsmouth, young James, obedient to the sense of duty and family traditions, chose a career in the Navy, but because of poor eyesight he did not qualify and in 1940 entered the British Royal Artillery.

Military years

When the fire of World War II broke out, James was in Malaysia. In one of the battles he was wounded, for some time an 18-year-old soldier managed to hide from Japanese soldiers in a local village. But in the end he was captured and sent first to prison on the island of Java, and then to the infernal camp of Changi near Singapore, where he was until the end of the war. Later, writer James Clavell said that surviving in a prison camp, where only one in 15 experienced torture, illness and hunger, he was helped by the conviction that a person is stronger than the circumstances and the environment in which he is. His pain and impressions of the experience the author never publicly shared, but transferred them to the novel "Rat King". After his release from captivity, Clavell returned to England, having at that time the title of captain. The military career of James ended after an unfortunate accident on a motorcycle, which forever left him lame.

Changes in life and career

The young man has to reconsider his plans for a later life, and in 1946 he enters the University of Birmingham. This decision becomes fatal, because at the University James Clavell met actress April Stride, feelings broke out between them, and on February 20, 1951, the lovers got married. Later, James became the happy father of two daughters, Mikaela and Holly. Since his wife, in the nature of his activities, spent a lot of time at film studios, Klavell also often had to go there. So imperceptibly James discovered in himself a creative vocation and began to work as a distributor of films.

Script writer and director

In 1953, Clavell decides to try his luck in the United States. After receiving an invitation to work in a pilot television project, he moved with his family to New York. He does not succeed in achieving the desired results, therefore, to support his family, the future famous writer does not shun the day to work for ordinary workers, and at night write scripts. His talent and interest in cinema give the first serious result in 1958: according to his script, the film "The Fly", which later became a classic thriller, is filmed. In 1959, the movie "Vatusi" was released on the screenplay of Clavel, and although the main role in the film is played even then the famous Michael Kane, the picture did not receive critical reviews. The ambitious screenwriter does not intend to put up with this state of affairs, he believes that the picture failed because of the improper submission of the plot. Now James Clavell intends to manage independently the entire production process of the film and in the same year he shoots the film "Five gates to hell" where he acts as a screenwriter, director and producer. Then in 1960 the film "Walking Like a Dragon" was shot, and in 1963 the light saw the movie "The Great Escape". The plot of the film narrated about the history of the escape of prisoners of war from a carefully guarded camp by the fascists. The film brought Clavell great success and a prize from the Guild of Screenwriters for the best script of the year. In the life of the director and scriptwriter, another change occurs: in the same year he receives US citizenship.

The first novel

Success and a favorite work pleases Clavel, but do not help forget about all the horrors of the war and the captivity that he had to endure. His wife advises James to write about those events and express his feelings on paper in order to get rid of the contradictions and personal conflicts that tear him apart, transferring them to the characters of the book. So in 1962 the first novel "The King of the Rats" was published, in which the author described much of what was happening in the Changi camp. This is the first book from the cycle known as the "Asian Saga". Later, the American writer James Clavell recalled how hard he was given work on the book. Drafts of each page had to be copied dozens of times in order to achieve the atmosphere of events occurring in the novel. The book instantly became a bestseller, and three years later a film was shot based on the novel.

Writer James Clavell: his works

In 1966, Clavel published the novel "Tai Pen", and although critics are not so unanimously and enthusiastically welcome the book, over time the novel is filmed. Clavell continues to write scripts and make films, usually military subjects or thrillers. The most famous and popular novel "Segun" writer publishes in 1975, the book is bought up in huge print runs, and in 1980 the novel is filmed. The film collected an audience of over 120 million, and Richard Chamberlain, who played the main role of a British navigator, found himself in Japan, instantly rose to the top of popularity. On Broadway the work was staged in 1989, and later a computer game with the same name appeared.

The writer does not bypass the attention of the children's audience, and in 1980 the Children's Tale is published. The theme of the East has always been interesting and close to the author, so he continues to work on the cycle of books from the "Asian Saga". In 1981, the book "Noble House" is published, which tells about the events that took place in the sixties of the twentieth century in Hong Kong. Then, in 1986, the reader gets acquainted with the novel "Whirlwind", which tells about similar events that took place after a decade in Iran. The cycle of the historical novel "Guy-Jin", the action in which unfolds in Japan of the nineteenth century, completes the cycle. The book was published in 1993. In addition to writing, screenwriting and directing work, Clavell, who since childhood was fond of oriental culture and proficient in many languages, translates ancient books. So, he manages in 1983 to adapt, translate and publish Sun-Tzu's famous book The Art of War.

Personal life and beliefs

Colleagues on the creative department noted that the American writer and screenwriter James Clavell had a solid character. He could be harsh and coldly polite with people he did not know, even if they were influential. The huge success of the author's works made him a millionaire, but at the same time, Clavell never chased money, creativity has always been more important. Publishers say that the writer avoided advances and did not tolerate fixed deadlines. He said that he has some capital to write what he considers necessary, at his own pace. His daughters recall that he was never a man of public writer James Clavell. Photos on which the author is depicted at work, make it clear how much creativity meant to him. His family has always been a quiet harbor, where the writer could escape from the obsessive press. Somehow he even admitted that he can trust in this life only to his wife and daughters. Since the family had enough money, the author often sat at the helm of his own helicopter and retired to write works in one of several houses located in the US, Austria or France. Together with his wife, they traveled a lot, especially in Asian countries.
Until the last days, James Clavell continued to work, but many projects were not implemented because of the severe oncological disease with which he struggled for a long time. For the wicked irony of the writer's life ended after a stroke, which overtook him on September 6, 1994 in a hotel in Vevey, Switzerland. He died a month before his seventieth birthday.