“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.
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I teach world history and am especially appreciative of a thoroughly researched historical time and setting in which to place finely plotted fiction.
Author sets up many interesting subplots but does not resolve them. In fact the entire plot is resolved in a single short paragraph at the end of the book that does not depend on the actions of the hero at all.
This one rates 10 stars! It is so much better than the movie. However, having seen the movie I could visualize the characters better & understand the story more fully. Outstanding! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
This is my second or third reading of this book. I’ll probably read it again before I die.
One of my all time favorite books.
I was mesmerized and could not put the novel down. It was amazing how Clavel was able to understand and capture the nuances of that Japanese time period and set mind of the people. Amazing.
I thought it was brilliant. historical fiction at it’s best.
Great. I read it every couple of years.
The series are absolutely must reads.
One of the best books I ever read.
Great Book, Great Read. Highly recommended.
Learn to speak Japanese as an added bonus.
One of my all time favorite books. It is a long read but absolutely worth all the time you spend. Clavell at his very best. History, warriors, intrigue, romance it has it all.
A disturbing look into the life in Japan in the 1700s.
I’ve read this twice and I’m looking forward to reading it once again. Throughly entertaining.
Read this years ago, loved it. Ready to read the whole series again.
One of the best Historical Fiction series. Loved it!!
This is a most compelling love story, a perceptive portrayal of Japan and it’s historical roots. It’s a book of war and an examination of a variety of military minds. It is a book of religion comparing Catholicism, Protestantism,
Shintoism and Budism with Karma, Bushido, kamikaze, seppeku, the life and death of the samurai… Awesome read…. …
This is the second time to read it, that is how good it is.
One of the best novels I have ever read and I’ve read thousands. Great entertainment value, fascinating period in human history, some of the best characters you will find anywhere.
just one word. PERFECT.