“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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Love Clavel’s series
All around wonderful book Interesting characters, insite into another culture, shocking sometimes, sad at times. VERY INTERESTING and an enjoyable read
I love when a book is both educational and wildly entertaining at the same time. Shogun fits the bill.
Read it when it first came out; wanted to experience this classic tale again. Still loved it!
Historical fiction at its best. An epic.
Awesomely written, researched book. 1st read it in the late 70s…just re-read again. My 1st take was as great as this reading…love this book. Definitely my favorite of all his books. Recommend to everyone! ^-^
Exciting read with lots of action & a great plot in an exotic land. Willingly learned history & culture through the author’s outstanding storytelling.
Literally could not put this book down. I was hooked from page one.
One of the best books I have ever read. Life changing for me.
Clavell is a master story teller…..
One of the best books of all time. Read it and enter its world. Unforgettable.
Fantastic period story of Japan at the time of the Black Ships when international trade with Japan was limited to one country and one port only in Nagasaki. When a Portuguese Pilot is shipwrecked in Japan he is horrified at how barbaric the people of Japan seem to be. But as he learns the Japanese Language he begins to see that perhaps Japanese …
One of the best books I’ve ever read.
Great insight into early Japan.
One of my favorite books of all time. I rarely reread books but I’ve read this one six or seven times. The television mini-series was perfectly cast and is worth a watch but the book is much better. I also saw a musical theatre version of the play and it was the worst theatre production I’ve ever seen! It was worse than a junior high school …
Immerses you in ancient Japan, fascinating story. I read it decades ago, now enjoying it a second time.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. A true masterpiece.
Excellent novel! Highly recommended to.
Wonderful epic story portraying life in feudal Japan, sailing vessels and the Jesuit presence in Japan.
Historically accurate (exchange Tokugawa for Toranaga); an excellent introduction into Japanese history, culture and language. The love story is a bit turgid, but the setting is excellent.