“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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Incredibly well written book of early sailors landing in the Japans and the ensuing interaction. Excellent book.
The best of historical fiction!
4.5
One of the 2 best book I have ever read.
Although all Clavell’s books are worthwhile, the next 2 in line are Taipan and Noble House.
This book is in the top five favorite books of all time. One of the few books I started reading at five in the evening and read right through the night, Got up and went back to work. The sign of a five star book.
Anyone with an interest in Japan should give this a read. Some of the history and anecdotes he gives are trite and prone to cliches, but it is still enjoyable reading like all of his novels in the Asian Saga.
A masterpiece
Shogun is my favorite book of all time. At 1210 pages I read it 3 times the summer I was 12. It is historical fiction at its very finest. Blackthorne and Mariko romance is a love for the ages. Toranaga is the ultimate puppet master. You both hate and respect such characters as Yabu and Omi. I just re-read it recently. Every single time I get done …
An excellent book from an excellent writer. James Clavell’s Asian Saga is 6 great books starting with Shogun!
One of the great martial arts stories.
Outstanding historical novel set in feudal Japan. Lots of action and twists, but also insightful into the culture of those times. Great characters throughout. Highly recommended.
This story gets you into the Chinese traditional secret society and paint a different picture of the Chinese life.
If I recall well a movie has been made on this story.
The book has a lot more details which help to understand some of the action taken by the caracters.
one of the most immersive worlds i have ever enjoyed reading about…the culture, the customs, the people
first book of a great historical fiction moving through centuries.
One of my top 5 books of all time.
James Clavell introduces a view into early feudal Japan where the intrigue and political skill would teach Machiavellian theorists a few new tricks. Where life was cheap, castes were rigid, and honor was supreme, a single lost sailor was thrust into a chaos that he had to maneuver to stay alive and thrive.
Just an all out excellent saga.
must have read this book a dozen times, I may have to read it again
This is a perfect read if you want to learn all about Japanese culture while embarking on an epic adventure full of politics, culture and tradition, violence and even love. A big read that you can sink into and will probably want to read again to re-appreciate.
Who knew that feudal Japan could be so fascinating? A long book that makes you wish for more when you finish it.