Customer Reviews

James Clavell: A Critical Companion (Critical Companions to Popular Contemporary Writers)

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Being a fan of Clavell's Asian Saga, I looked forward to reading this companion, but it wasn't what I expected. I hoped it would go a little deeper into the stories behind the novels - the true historical events upon which Clavell based his works, his research, and more "inside scoop" in general. As it is, the companion is sort of a watered-down Clift-note. It's not bad - the chapter on the Author's life is informative, just not enough detail. Obviously, Macdonald can write and she knows a lot more about writing than I do (she talks about "thematic issues," "genre conventions," and "deconsruction"), but I wanted to read more about Clavell and the history behind the stories.

James Clavell has always played a key part in the way my life and career developed. His books opened my eyes to exciting and exotic cultures, and based on the strength of that (and whatever change I had in my pocket), I travelled the world and both worked in and visited the same places he featured in his novels. I do not wish to add praise to his literary merits, but I do wish to say - that in my life - he has had tremendous influence, brought endless hours of enjoyment, and provided a road map to discovering the world.