The Children's Story A Collection of Stories
It was a simple incident in the life of James Clavell—a talk with his young daughter just home from school—that inspired this chilling tale of what could happen in twenty-five quietly devastating minutes. He writes, "The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I really realized how vulnerable my child's mind was —any mind, for that matter—under controlled circumstances. Normally I write and rewrite and re-rewrite, but this story came quickly—almost by itself. Barely three words were changed. It pleases me greatly because I kept asking the questions…
Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like Why is it so easy to divert thoughts? Like What is freedom? and Why is so hard to explain?
The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can—then your child will...."
Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like Why is it so easy to divert thoughts? Like What is freedom? and Why is so hard to explain?
The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can—then your child will...."
FictionLiteraryShort Stories (single author)Family Life
RELEASED1989
PUBLISHERRandom House Publishing Group
LENGTH96
LANGUAGEEN
James Clavell (born Charles Edmund Dumaresq Clavell; October 10, 1924 – September 6, 1994) was an Australian-born British author, screenwriter, and director, best known for his *Asian Saga* consisting of 6 novels, including the critically acclaimed [*Shōgun*][2] (1975). This epic historical novel, inspired by the story of English navigator William Adams, explores cultural clashes and survival in feudal Japan. It became an international bestseller and has been adapted twice for television: first as a groundbreaking NBC miniseries in 1980 and more recently in 2024 as a critically praised FX/Hulu series. Clavell’s experiences as a World War II prisoner of war in a Japanese camp deeply influenced his works, which are celebrated for their rich cultural detail and historical depth. In addition to his novels, he wrote screenplays for films such as *The Great Escape* (1963) and directed *To Sir, with Love* (1967). Naturalized as an American citizen later in life, Clavell left a legacy of storytelling that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. He passed away in Vevey, Switzerland, at the age of 69. ([Source][1]) [1]: https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Clavell [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2918756W
The Children's Story A Collection of Stories
It was a simple incident in the life of James Clavell—a talk with his young daughter just home from school—that inspired this chilling tale of what could happen in twenty-five quietly devastating minutes. He writes, "The Children's Story came into being that day. It was then that I really realized how vulnerable my child's mind was —any mind, for that matter—under controlled circumstances. Normally I write and rewrite and re-rewrite, but this story came quickly—almost by itself. Barely three words were changed. It pleases me greatly because I kept asking the questions…
Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like Why is it so easy to divert thoughts? Like What is freedom? and Why is so hard to explain?
The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can—then your child will...."
Questions like, What's the use of 'I pledge allegiance' without understanding? Like Why is it so easy to divert thoughts? Like What is freedom? and Why is so hard to explain?
The Children's Story keeps asking me all sorts of questions I cannot answer. Perhaps you can—then your child will...."
FictionLiteraryShort Stories (single author)Family Life
RELEASED1989
PUBLISHERRandom House Publishing Group
LENGTH96
LANGUAGEEN
James Clavell (born Charles Edmund Dumaresq Clavell; October 10, 1924 – September 6, 1994) was an Australian-born British author, screenwriter, and director, best known for his *Asian Saga* consisting of 6 novels, including the critically acclaimed [*Shōgun*][2] (1975). This epic historical novel, inspired by the story of English navigator William Adams, explores cultural clashes and survival in feudal Japan. It became an international bestseller and has been adapted twice for television: first as a groundbreaking NBC miniseries in 1980 and more recently in 2024 as a critically praised FX/Hulu series. Clavell’s experiences as a World War II prisoner of war in a Japanese camp deeply influenced his works, which are celebrated for their rich cultural detail and historical depth. In addition to his novels, he wrote screenplays for films such as *The Great Escape* (1963) and directed *To Sir, with Love* (1967). Naturalized as an American citizen later in life, Clavell left a legacy of storytelling that continues to captivate audiences worldwide. He passed away in Vevey, Switzerland, at the age of 69. ([Source][1]) [1]: https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Clavell [2]: https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2918756W
