SOURCE: "Capture the Flag," in The Village Voice, Vol. XXVI, No. 36, September 2, 1981, p. 37.

In the following review, Fremont-Smith traces the publication history of The Children's Story and offers a negative assessment of its literary, political, and social value.

Once upon a time—this was before "Finlandization" and "secular humanism" were coined, and before James Clavell (King Rat, Tai-Pan, Shogun, Noble House) became a U.S. citizen and got really rich and famous (though not to weep, he was doing okay in Hollywood)—a little girl dashed home to tell her father what she had just learned by heart in school. "Daddy, Daddy, listen!" she cried, her cheeks rosy with excitement. And then, in a proud rush, she recited: "I plege' illegience to the flag …"

Michaela Clavell's father was touched, of course, and gave his daughter a dime at her request. But he was also curious and concerned. Had...