“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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Excellent, entertaining, exciting.
Amazing story that kept you interested from beginning to end.
A great book.
I read this book many years ago and it made an impression on me that I carry with me to this day.
This book was so gruesome that I had to put it down and couldn’t finish it!
Put Iran in a different perspective for me but excellent history.
This is one of my all-time favorite books. Aside from the wonderful story, which includes a great romance, it also is educational and informative. I learned a great deal about the history and culture of Japan from just this one book, not to mention picking up a bit of the language! This book also provides the cornerstone for several other …
Great insight into feudal Japan.
I loved this book. I read it a long time ago and plan to read it again.
Another great page turner that will keep your interest
Love this book! I’ve read it more than once. I love the love story.
The book is a panorama of the people of Japan. It is about their daily life, customs and beliefs. Into this life sails a British ship wanting to establish trade. The Captain and his men are treated brutally. The story continue on when Captain is brought before the leader of the area where he has landed. The Master wants to know all about the …
Too slow, difficult to keep up with who the characters were probably because of their unfamiliar names. Did not finish but was looking forward to the historical aspect of it.
One of my all time favorites.
An amazing story. The whole series is exceptional.
Classic Clavell. Large story and great characters.
I was fascinated by the descriptions of 16th century Japan, and amazed by how true to modern times the geographical descriptions are. The book is incredibly long, but definitely worth the time.
I read this book at 20 & am over 60 now!
I luoved it & its a great book
Taught me about another world
One of those epic novels in the style of Michener w/o the geological time prefaces. Read it before you turn 25 because after that, you’ll have outgrown this kind of plot-centric novel. Don’t bother with the sequel.