“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.
more
Intriguing saga of feudal Japan. Americanized version.
This book included historical fact along with fictional characters. I read it many years ago and would love to re-read it now. I just remember wanting to cry as I came to the end of the book because I wanted it to continue and continue.
Not as good as the first time I read it . Middle drags and I didn’t like the ending.
Magnificent painting of an entire world that little was known about before this publication. Brilliant story by a master story teller.
Best book I have ever read.
Classic look into the Japanese culture.
I read this book years ago and it remains one of my all-time favorites. Great book!!!!
An all-time favorite that I’ve read and re-read many times. It’s really wonderful.
Keeps the reader interests with a lot of action and human feelings about the way things were back in that time
I read this years ago and still remember it as a great book. I had never read a book set in the Shogunate of Japan. The book seemed well researched. I recommend it.
One of the greatest adventure tales of all time. You’ ll become totally immersed in the Japanese’s culture of that time. One of my favorite books. Clavell’s best work.
I read Shogun years ago when it came out and I recommend it for anyone who wants to learn about the opening of Japan to the West. It’s long, but rewarding.
One of the best books I’ve ever read. Fantastic characters. Intriguing Plot. And unforgettable read.
DNF, I read it -or tried – years ago. I stopped about halfway, I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s endless and so tedious.
I read this book many years ago and enjoy ed it thoroughly. However it did have parts that drug on and on. Would still recommend this book.
This is a magnificent read! Long but that is part of what makes it great.
Exciting adventure story about shipwrecked Englishman caught up in 1600s Japanese political intrigue.
I read this book a couple of decades ago, but I bought it again as a Kindle edition so I can reread it even though i’ve downsized my library considerably. It is a vivid and vividly written account of the world of the Japanese sjogunate, which lasted from the 16th century to the mid-19th century, and which developed the culture that led to the …
An excellent entertaining book with fabulous characters. One of my favorite authors and one of his best books. I have read thousands of novels. It has stuck with me for years.
My favorite book of all time. Clavel takes the reader to Medieval Japan for a wonderful action-packed adventure of a lifetime. Blackthorne, an English navigator on a Dutch ship is shipwrecked in unchartered territory and finds himself the prisoner of hostile Japanese. He learns to navigate their society to become an integral part of the court’s …