The Children's Story

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...."

James Clavell, who died in 1994, was a screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although he wrote the screenplays for a number of acclaimed films, including The Fly (1958), The Great Escape (1963), and To Sir With Love (1967), he is best known for his epic novels in his Asian Saga.

The Society for the Study of Childhood in the Past, in conjunction with Oxbow Books, publishes this recent international journal, Childhood in the Past. This journal provides a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, international forum for the publication of research into all aspects of children and childhood in the past, which transcends conventional intellectual, disciplinary, geographical and chronological boundaries. The editor welcomes offers of papers from any field of study which can further knowledge and understanding of the nature and experience of childhood in the past.

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