“Only by living at the edge of death can you understand the indescribable joy of life.”After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen—Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is late sixteenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, … people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne’s loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.
Powerful and engrossing, capturing both the rich pageantry and stark realities of life in feudal Japan, Shōgun is a critically acclaimed powerhouse of a book. Heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action melds seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion. Endlessly compelling, this sweeping saga captivated the world to become not only one of the bestselling novels of all time but also one of the highest-rated television miniseries, as well as inspiring a nationwide surge of interest in the culture of Japan. Shakespearean in both scope and depth, Shōgun is, as the New York Times put it, “…not only something you read—you live it.” Provocative, absorbing, and endlessly fascinating, there is only one: Shōgun.
more
I originally read this book in the 1980’s when it first came out, and read it again a few years ago. It is definitely one of my favorite books, which I’m sure I will read again in the future. A great historical novel.
Truly a book which you will not forget. The book can be read on many levels; it’s complex, realistic, tragic, and never falters in its beautiful storytelling. Brilliant storyline, plot, characters, dialogue. The era and location in which the book is set is fascinating; the complex character interactions are vibrant and evocative even for our …
Shogun is a historical novel illustrating the early days of the European trade routes to the east. It’s a story of clashing cultures with the west jockeying for wealth and power while the Japanese war lords have their own power struggles. Clavell brings us on a fascinating immersion in historic fiction.
Over the years since this book was first published I have read it twice. I intend to read it a third time. It is a fascinating story of Feudal Japan.
Amazing Story. I have read this before many years ago. Was wonderful to rediscover this story and these characters.
This is one of the all-time great historical novels by a unique, gifted writer. His body of work stands as a monumental achievement, and gives the reading world a much better understanding of the people and history of the Japanese and Chinese cultures.
one of the best books I have ever read! I would give it a 5 star + rating.
It has been many years since I read this wonderful story. But, even today I remember the fascinating realistic time, place and characters. I wanted to be there and see and speak to those people, and understand their way of life. Their story was compelling, and the author’s talent undeniable.
I read this every several years. GREAT read.
Helps one understand historical Japan…
First read it when it was new. This is my first re-read, forty years later. Clavell was a master storyteller, with encyclopedic knowledge of historic Asia. Superb.
One of my all-time favorite books and authors
I read the hardback many years ago and loved it.
James Clavell writes compelling stories with hints of more to come that leave you waiting on the edge of your seat.
For the past 60 years I have been an avid reader of most all literary genres. I am also a professional writer and I can say without qualification Shogun is most interesting and captivating novel I have ever had the extreme pleasure of reading. (Three times since it was first published, actually.) My cousin Karen also named Shogun as her favorite …
Beautifully written book which I read years ago and still remember. Great education on old Japan.
9gagaOvie9 was wonderful historic fiction!
Simply a classic!
Read this years ago, but it was a favorite.
This was a book that I could not put down. I had planned on taking it on a trip but read the entire book before we left. The characters and story are great plus a little fictional history drew me in. Clavell writes a good book and I went on to read several more.