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Brett C's Reviews > ōܲ
ōܲ
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This was a very long and epic tale. It was filled with a thick plot, various subplots, and well-developed characters. The book is considered historical fiction as it gives lots of details, cultural explanations, and historical references pertaining to Japan. The feudal system, the different peoples and titles (shogun, samurai, ronin, etc.), and other various cultural nuances are all throughout the story.
Overall its a long and intriguing tale. For me personally I enjoyed it but some parts of the book were long-winded and could have been left out. Thanks!
Overall its a long and intriguing tale. For me personally I enjoyed it but some parts of the book were long-winded and could have been left out. Thanks!
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ōܲ.
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Reading Progress
March 5, 2019
– Shelved
March 5, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 21, 2020
–
Started Reading
March 21, 2020
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
March 22, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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Jim
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 22, 2020 07:48PM
one of my favorite novels!
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I love this book dearly! Thanks for the review.
Calista wrote: "I love this book dearly! Thanks for the review."You're welcome! lol
W wrote: "It was long-winded."I had to power through some parts.
Jim wrote: "one of my favorite novels!":-)
I very much enjoyed this in the late 1970s.It should be noted that Clavell not only replaced a chunk of Japanese history to fit his plot, he anticipated some Western technology by about a century. For both reasons, I tend to regard it as a very detailed alternate-history.
The idea of an Elizabethan English seaman winding up in Japan is loosely based on real history, though: if you've already read the novel, see .
Ian, Cool! I'll look into William Adams. I had no idea. Thanks!
There have been other novels using the story: some are listed by Wikipedia. I tried reading one, but I can't recall the title off-hand, and don't recognize it from Wikipedia's list.I never got past the part in which, about 1600, the Elizabethan protagonist goes to the Royal Society ("of London for Improving Natural Knowledge") for information on Japan. The institution didn't exist yet (officially founded 1660), and didn't maintain itself as a reference library for random seamen in any case. (It was different when members of the Royal Society began to accompany expeditions, such as the voyages of Captain Cook.)
