Author of best-selling epic 'Shogun' dies

THE Shogun author James Clavell has died after a short illness, his publisher Eric Major said last night.

In a career spanning 40 years, Mr Clavell, who was in his seventies, was one of the most successul writers of his generation. His hugely-successful Eastern epic Shogun became a blockbuster TV mini-series. He turned his attentions to Iran for the 1,023-page Whirlwind, which came out in 1986 and earned him pounds 3m.

Clavell, who was born in Australia where his father was serving in the Royal Navy, is survived by a widow, April. They married in 1953. His latest novel Gai-Jin was published by Hodder and Stoughton last year and became an international bestseller. His screen writing credits included The Fly, The Great Escape, 633 Squadron and as screenwriter/producer/director To Sir With Love.

He served during the Second World War as a captain in the Royal Artillery. He was captured in Java in 1941 and imprisoned in the notorious Changi jail until 1945. His first novel King Rat was based on his experiences and was later made into a successful film starring George Segal, Denholm Elliott, James Fox and John Mills.