“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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One of the best novels on the Japanese history I’ve ever read. Compelling to the very end.
His characterization of Japansee culture is attractive and makes the reader want to belong to it.
This is the first book in what I think is the best novel series ever written. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have read it several times!
I read this book many years ago and remember a great deal more about it than most recent ones. The characters, descriptions and events were like nothing I’d ever imagined. It took three days to finish only because my husband and kids insisted on eating during that time. Highly recommend!
Fun historical read with some basis in reality.
I read this originally when it was first published. I have always liked this book & the lessons it contained. This is a story about the ability of people to adapt to new situations successfully.
This is one of the best I have ever read. Five star for sure!
An Epic tale, well written..a classic
Awesome!
Amazing detail, wonderful juxtapositioning of powers, empires, and personalities. Riveting descriptions of life in samurai-led Japan through the eyes of an English navigator. Marvelous! Clavell at his best!
Fantastic look into Japan before it allowed white men to enter. Absolutely riveting
I not only couldn’t put it down, I read it several times! Not enough superlatives to describe it!
I’ve read this book at least 10 times (really!) and plan to read it again…and again. James Clavell makes his characters and stories unforgettable!
A true classic
Typically wonderful James Clavell. Characters you wish you knew personally, situations that are completely unexpected. And the history of Japan you just don’t learn in school. This is the third time I’ve read this book, my first time on Kindle. This is a really well-edited e-book. Wakaramasu-ka?
The best book about the Samurai era.
One of my favorite books ever. brutal in places. Great love story.
I saw the Mini-Series many years ago and was curious as to the differences in the book. I found the book very compelling and every bit as exciting as the TV version.
One of my favorite books of all time.
LOVED IT! It transports you back to another time and place. Cultures are clashing and one man is smart enough to learn from the other culture. It’s got everything – romance, tragedy, history. Makes me want to learn Japanese!