“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 historical novels I have ever read! What an incredible author.
A lush historical epic set in the fascinating age of the samurai in feudal Japan, when honor and obedience to one’s lord held greater value than life itself.
The author, James Clavell, spent years in the orient, including Japan. He began as a POW, which resulted in the book, King Rat. He spent more years there. learning the history and culture of the area. SHOGUN is a masterpiece, with unforgettable characters, at totally unpredictable story, totally immersed in the life in Japan in the early …
Clavel never disappoints. This is his very best.
One of my all time favorite books, a really good read.
Wonderful. I’ve had this book for years and have read it twice.
It provides a very good historical perspective for those interested in the history of Japan and the samurai with the characters woven into an enthralling story.
Fantastic and beautiful In so many ways.
Read this many years ago. Wonderful.
I don’t know how close to being true to the time period, but regardless I’ve always enjoyed the storyline
A classic!
Captures the mystery of the east and highlights the commercial race to open up China to trade.
An excellent saga of a white man stuck in Samurai-era Japan, the cultural clashes, and his gradual assimilation.
Loved this book
Long but well worth it.
Good read from cover to cover, kept my interest the whole book. Never wanted to put it down
MAGNIFICENT
A favorite that I re-read regularly. Intriguing plot woven through amazing historical detail. Has history, adventure, suspense, and romance.
Amazing fictional novel and historical work in one, well researched – if you like James Michener’s novels (saga) same quality. I read it later saw TV Mini series (well done by the way) and then reread it to all the detail again. Just a fantastic story about a real period in our world history.
Wonderful, suck you into the world and make you forget the ‘real’ world book. A classic.