James Clavell was a British-American novelist, screenwriter, director, and World War II veteran. His most famous work is the novel 'Tai-Pan', which was published in 1966. The novel is set in Hong Kong during the 19th century and follows the story of Dirk Struan, a powerful trader in the region. The term 'Tai-Pan' is derived from the Chinese word for 'supreme leader'. It is the title of the book and the 6-letter solution to the crossword puzzle.