Shogun

• ) I don't think you can fully appreciate the book in just one reading . Clavell is just so fluid in his writing that you get lost in his story and you don't think about some things as you read it the first time . Now critics probably will because that is what they do , criticize . But I read novels , when I have the time , for enjoyment , and this novel was very pleasing to me to read . You will find that there are several themes that run throughout the book . A love story , a tradgedy , and a triumph , really a rags to riches story , but one that ends so sorrowfully . Amidst all this is subterfuge , treachery , usery , duty and honor ( bushido ) , beauty and a love that can only exist on a spiritual plane . Mariko and Blackthorne became soul mates if you will . Should we all be so fortunate to have such love ? It was truly just a great chess game though , if you know how to play chess : Toranago , being the white king , who so adroitly manipulated all of his pieces and thus became Shogun . Mariko the Queen , Blackthorne the two rooks , he was that powerful I think . Alvito and Del'Aqua the bishops and Yabu and Omi the knights , because they were so treacherous and oblique . You will understand I think what I mean when you read the book . You won't get that from the movie though . Compared to the book , the movie is very shallow in its development of the characters , and in fact the themes . I will talk a little now about the plots and characters . First off , I had to do some research on Feudal Japan's history and economy to truly understand the story , You will never understand just how important and powerful and rich Blackthorne became in Japan unless you do . The man became legendary within I think 6 months of time , more powerful than just about any Samurai out there and his sexual prowess was renouned . At first he was sentenced to death , lived in a pit , urintate on , and subsequently sent to a death prison . Then through Karma ( I will state it that way ) he became a Hatamoto , Samurai and Chief Admiral of Toranaga's fleet with a small fief at first , but in the end , one that would make him a Lord of considerable note . He would become lord of Anjiro , Yokese and Itu , almost an entire province . I am somewhat of a historian of Medevial times , and I know just how precious that can be for that period of time . So at first he may be likened to a Baron , perhaps a Viscount in England , but in the end perhaps more like a Marquess . His annual income would be 4000 koku per year for just Anjiro , but my guess is it would have been raised to close to 10,000 koku per year for the addition of the other two cities , if the story had progressed . I would say he was like a Duke ( I think Toranaga thought of him as a brother ) , but he had no hereditary title so that would be forbidden , so Marquess is perhaps the best title . And the swords given to him , one would not realize I think on first reading just how precious they were , and how valuable , just as they would be in Medieval Europe . The swords given to Blackthorne by Toranaga were over 200 years old , and worth maybe 50,000 koku , maybe even 100,000 koku . They were named Oil Seller ( you will have to read the book to know why ) . He was extraordinarily rich with just his first stipend from Toranaga of 240 koku per year . Towards the end where he was given the Minawara sword by Yabu , who was given the sword by Toranaga , and that sword was claimed to be priceless to a any samarui , he became like a Bill Gates , if not in money at least legend . So in effect , Blackthorne became everything he wanted to be in England , but instead it happened in Japan which he came to love . In so doing though , he lost the two most precious things in his life ; therefore the tradgedy of the story . Unless you think about it , you won't realize why Mariko decided to give herself physically to Blackthorne after Yokese . There are many reasons , but most importantly , he was samurai . She knew by then she would be dead after Osaka but also that she loved him beyond measure . She wanted to experience the love and happiness she had never known in life before she died , so she put both her's and Bleackthornes life on the line so that she might experience the greatest joy she had ever known , more joy than I can expect in 20 lifetimes ! Even the fear of disgrace and that of her son if found out did not deter her from her need to be with Blackthorne . This of course was a crime punishible by immediate death by her husband , for both of them , Thus the extreme concern for Blackthorne's life . I love the dialogue in the book during the romantic scenes so I have tabbed them . Many of you might also . In the book he was given Kiku as consort and she would soon become his wife . It was the best compensation that Toranaga could give to Blackthorne for the loss of Mariko . He knew exactly what the two meant to each other and the incredible indescretion that they had purpertrated . He did not care because I think he loved them so much , at least needed them more than any others of his thousands of vassals . So this was Toranaga's gift to both Kiku and Blackthorne and in reality , Mariko . Kiku was worth 3000 koku , an incredible amount of money , one that most can't fathom unless they read up on the economy of the time . Blackthorne actually did love her in a physical way , and perhaps in a more emotional way too he found her so pleasing , but certainly not on the spiritual plane of Mariko . The movie was not that way though , which I found disturbing because they took so many passages from the book verbatim which was nice , but then displaced them in place and time , and really changed the plot in sections . Why would they change the ending ? ? ? You will read in the book where at first Kiku was absolutely revolted when told she was to be consort to Blackthorne The Barbarian . When told she would become his wife with a stipend of 1000 koku per year ( which would make her personally rich beyond her wildest dreams ) after the first born son who obviously would be samurai , and also that she herself would be made samurai by default , she was mollified . after all samurai is samurai and two swords are two swords and his sons will be samurai . He's hatamoto , one of my most important vassals , Admiral of all my ships , a close personal advisor - even a friend , Neh ? She would be wife to one of the most powerful samurai's in the land and one of the most legendary . She in effect would become legend just like Mariko . She was overcome with glee and became ecstactic because she knew that with Omi she would be nothing more than a non-samurai consort of low status if that . What would you expect from a peasant girl , sold and raised to live her life in the Willow World ? The greatest thing that could ever happen to her , that she constantly dreamed of , was that she would become Samurai , and how could the impossibile become reality ? But it did ; a true miracle , or Karma , who knows ? I am absolutely positive that if you are a romantic who takes pleasure in such stories , you will love this book .
• 001 4  ' Historical ' fiction is something of a misnomer , as books placed in this category are almost always fiction first and ' historical ' only in time and setting . Shogun , however , comes close to being a true example of this field , detailing the late 16th century exploration and exploitation of the Orient by the Portuguese , Dutch , Spanish , and English . As few Americans are aware of some of the atrocities and cruelties committed in the name of crown and religion during this period , some of the scenes depicted in this book may come as shock . But they provide an excellent background portrait of the European mind-set of those times , a palette that Clavell uses to contrast and define the extraordinarily different culture of the Japan of that time . And it is his portrait of the Japanese , his lovingly detailed characterizations of Toranaga , Mariko , Omi and their deeply intertwined interactions with the English pilot Blackthorne that defines and breathes life into this breathtakingly large and complex story of love , war , and political intrigue . And these characters are not static . Each grows and changes as events unfold , most especially Blackthorne himself , growing from a totally self-centered ' barbarian ' of unclean habits to a person who can appreciate the beauty , intelligence , and moral rectitude of others , who comes to care deeply for those around him , who comes to understand a philosophy of life totally different from that of his own culture . The reader will eventually take each of these characters into his heart , will live right along with them and their problems , cares , successes , and failures , until they are almost more real than the mundane world the reader inhabits . Is this book totally historically accurate ? No , but it doesn't really need to be . It is a fictional account of one of the defining moments of Japanese history , with all the requirements of a work of fiction , written for an American audience , and certain items have yielded to literary license to make the story more approachable by the reader . Certainly Toranaga would not have played chess , but would American readers have understood ' Go ' as metaphor for Toranaga's deep political machinations ? As a story , a tale of high adventure , as a hard look at alternative life philosophies , as an exposition of a very exotic time , place , and culture , this work succeeds on almost every level . This is an excellent read that will expand your horizons and enrich your life , entertain you and satisfy your inner craving for something different from the every-day world of today .
• 002 4  Shogun is one of those rare books that you wish would go on forever . Indeed , I know people who re-read it every year . The story follows the adventures of marooned English sailor John Blackthorne in late medieval Japan during the tumultuous years when Tokugawa Ieyasu ( here called Toranaga ) was uniting all of Japan under his rule by any means necessary . It's truly an epic tale of war , honor , trechery , masterful manipulations , tragic heroism , and star-crossed love . The characters come alive completely and the plot is absolutely gripping . Be warned that you probably won't be able to put this one down - Somehow I read this 1000 + page book in only five days , ignoring all my schoolwork . I can't say enough good things about this book - it never lets up , always keeps you thinking , and can be quite moving emotionally too . The other thing that's cool about this book is how amazingly accurate it is historically , considering it's fiction . One of my only complaints about this book is that Clavell changed all the names even though almost all his characters were real people - even the main character , Blackthorne , was based on a real guy . It would have been cool to get the real names . Shogun is Clavell's masterwork - if any author writes a book this good even only once in a lifetime he or she has suceeded . Everyone should read it , not because it will incredibly enrich your life ( its only fiction after all ) , but simply because this book is so damn good it would be a shame for anyone to miss out on it .
• 003 4  This review is from : Shogun ( Mass Market Paperback ) Very few men are wise-most are sinners and great evil happens on earth in gods name . But not of god . This world is vale of tears and only a preparation for the everlasting peace . - James Clavell , page 1085 , Shogun . For some reason this statement , made by Japanese christen monk perfectly sums up the awesome book that is shogun . I don't mean awesome in the sense of dude , that was awesome , I mean it in the sense that this book is awe inspiring , mind blowing and devastatingly emotional and good . This is a book about a man named John Blackthorn , English pilot of the Dutch ship Erasmus who was washed ashore with what was left of his crew in the small Japanese village of Anjiro . His tale is amazing , for Blackthorn will become the man who brings Japan into the 17th century , introduces them to guns , and totally decimates the Portuguese Jesuit hold over Japan . None of this sounds good of course , but that's because this book isn't really about Blackthorn . I've always avoided Asian fiction and history , so I have no idea how accurate this book is . But , even if it's all total hooey , this book is amazing . It brings to life the Japan of flying cherry petals , green bamboo , samurai honor and wild mountain peaks . This is a book about honor and love and crossing cultural boundaries . It's a book about duty and karma and everything that is noble in life . Written in the style of Michener , only with more emotion , I can only say that this is one of the best books I have ever read . It's so good in fact , that I don't think I can ever read it again . It's a devastating emotional and draining experience to read this book , and if you can truly accept the feeling of honor and duty and courage and beauty that permeates every word that Clavell writes , I promise this book will , if not totally change your life , at least change your outlook on it . I haven't stopped crying since finishing the book 20 minutes ago , and to be honest I don't want too . I truly feel to have left a world behind , along with true people whose honesty and courage were as true as the landscape of Japan itself . The people in this book do not appear to be friends ; they are as much a part of me as they would be a part of any reader who can really allow the book to work its magic on them . I really wish there was a rating above five stars .
• 004 4  Very few men are wise-most are sinners and great evil happens on earth in gods name . But not of god . This world is vale of tears and only a preparation for the everlasting peace . - James Clavell , page 1085 , Shogun . For some reason this statement , made by Japanese christen monk perfectly sums up the awesome book that is shogun . I don't mean awesome in the sense of dude , that was awesome , I mean it in the sense that this book is awe inspiring , mind blowing and devastatingly emotional and good . This is a book about a man named John Blackthorn , English pilot of the Dutch ship Erasmus who was washed ashore with what was left of his crew in the small Japanese village of Anjiro . His tale is amazing , for Blackthorn will become the man who brings Japan into the 17th century , introduces them to guns , and totally decimates the Portuguese Jesuit hold over Japan . None of this sounds good of course , but that's because this book isn't really about Blackthorn . I've always avoided Asian fiction and history , so I have no idea how accurate this book is . But , even if it's all total hooey , this book is amazing . It brings to life the Japan of flying cherry petals , green bamboo , samurai honor and wild mountain peaks . This is a book about honor and love and crossing cultural boundaries . It's a book about duty and karma and everything that is noble in life . Written in the style of Michener , only with more emotion , I can only say that this is one of the best books I have ever read . It's so good in fact , that I don't think I can ever read it again . It's a devastating emotional and draining experience to read this book , and if you can truly accept the feeling of honor and duty and courage and beauty that permeates every word that Clavell writes , I promise this book will , if not totally change your life , at least change your outlook on it . I haven't stopped crying since finishing the book 20 minutes ago , and to be honest I don't want too . I truly feel to have left a world behind , along with true people whose honesty and courage were as true as the landscape of Japan itself . The people in this book do not appear to be friends ; they are as much a part of me as they would be a part of any reader who can really allow the book to work its magic on them . I really wish there was a rating above five stars .
• 005 4  Epic ? Novel ? History ? Cultural Lesson ? All of the above ! This is an incredible work on numerous levels . On the surface , it's a historical fiction about the power struggles in Feudal Japan as the country comes to grips with Western influence . Lord Toronaga is a fictional character based on Tokugawa , the 3rd major unifier of feudal Japan . On a second level , the book sets the stage for Clavell's Asian Saga . Seeds are planted here that appear throughout his novels . On a third level , the book is a treasure of Japanese culture . For those new to Japanese culture , the behaviors and interactions of the characters seems very foreign . Even back then , how could civilized people think like that ? Guess what - they think like that now too ! And Blackthorne - the prototypical Gai-jin - he set the standard for foreigners struggling in that culture . On a personal level , this is a book that grew with me . It fueled an interest in Japanese culture and history . In the years following my first pass of Shogun , I read quite a bit of Japanese history , and saw the accuracy of the story . Later , when I lived in Japan , I found my understanding of the culture radically improved by the lessons learned in the book . And to think , I bought this because I need a thick book to pass time on all these plan rides !
• 006 4  For sheer narrative power and immersion in another world , few have done it better than Clavell in Shogun . The book grabs you from the first page and never seems to let go . It's an easy read , too , since you barely notice you're reading . ( I read it in three days back in the seventies , hardly stopping for air , and have needed bifocals with reading lenses ever since . ) Still the book has some unfortunate blunders including an allusion to a samurai using judo ( not invented until the 1880 ' s , while this book takes place in the 16th century ) and another shaking off his sandals to kick at an enemy ( quite out of character for such warriors since they were predominantly weaponed soldiers who would never choose to kick an enemy if they had access to one of their traditional instruments of war ; besides so-called karate kicking wasn't introduced into Japan , from Okinawa , until the 1920 ' s ) . The worst error , I thought , had Lord Toranaga playing chess , a western game , when it would have made more sense for him to be playing the indigenous Japanese game of go instead . But the Japanese warriors did have jiu-jitsu , the forerunner of judo , and kicking could have been a part of what they did ( however unlikely ) and Toronaga could have taught himself chess since he is portrayed as a quick study with a keen and very deep mind . And besides , these are minor quibbles . Basically , this is a powerful tale of intrigue and maneuvering as the players move about on the chessboard of feudal Japan , never certain who among them is really moving the pieces and who is just being moved - - at least until the end . The sense and feel of the culture , if not the details , also ring remarkably true and you do feel as though you've lived the entire experience when at last you close the book on the final page . And the characters , as the reviews following mine point out , are also based on real people ; the events on things that really occurred - - though Clavell granted himself literary license to manipulate and recast what he found in the histories to make his tale a more dramatic one . It's not a true story in that sense , but it's a great one and well worth a pair of glasses . - - Stuart W . Mirsky
• 007 4  This book is one of my all-time favorites ! I read it for the first time almost twenty years ago and have re-read it many times since . That's right ! I've read this book at least 4 times - - its that good ! The characters are extremely well written and the plot is spellbinding . You won't be able to put the book down . The politics of Japan in the 1600 ' s were extremely complex and Clavell captures this exquisitely . The love story between Anjin-san and the Lady Mariko is a classic . Really , I can't recommend this book highly enough . I thought that the mini-series was extrememly well done . Also , if you like this book , please read Clavell's other efforts , Tai-Pan and Nobel House . They are every bit as good . James Clavell was a master storyteller .
• 008 4  Many of us loathe the lengthy historical novels that grace the shelves of book stores today , intimidated by their size and impending substance . My fascination with Japanese culture , samurai and the orient , coupled with a recent trip to ' The Last Samurai ' drove me to the nearest bookshop in search of something to quench my thirst for enlightenment . Clavell's novels , being classics and well acclaimed , caught my attention and I turned to Shogun for a challenging read . Not since Lord of the Rings have I become so involved in a story , often staying awake until midnight to comfortably conclude a chapter or missing one or two meals to find out how another one of the Characters dilemma's was solved . Shoguns roller-coaster of action , adventure , romance and history culminated in a saga that entangles itself in your mind . All the characters display their unique personalities , traits , vices and virtues . Blackthorne , the typical 17th century english ' Sea Dog ' is civilized by Japan through the beautiful and lovely Mariko , the cunning , masterful and lovable Lord Toranaga and the rest of the gang . Historically the book keeps on the tracks , changing a couple of names along the way ( Eg : Tokugawa & #62 ; Toranaga ) however there really was a war involving Tokugawa for the shogunate which he won , defeating the armies that stood in his way left behind after the ' Taiko ' died . There was also a ' Goroda ' dictator figure who ruled and was really assasinated , but the story of an english pilot landing in Japan , and developing a relationship with the most powerful daimyo in the land is all fiction . The triumph came for me when i realized how much this book puts The Last Samurai to shame , and only on completion of the novel did I realise what a pathetic and inaccurate interpretation of Japanese culture the movie really is , forgetting it hopeless story and personality crippled characters . Unchallenged still , Shogun remains the pinnacle of english literature on Japan ( Story Based Anyway ) with its twists and turns , you become engrossed in the story , secretly ( in your heart ) rooting for the characters you like . By the end of this novel I found myself thinking like a samurai , after all it is all down to karma , neh ? And would recommend the book to anyone of open mind and possessing an appreciation for great literature ! Can't wait to read Gai-Jin and Tai-Pan ! ! !
• 009 4  Shogun is absolutely the BEST book I have ever read in my life . I started it out because I was really bored ; I never intended to actually finish it . But I was instantly swept away into another place and time , and the characters seemed like good friends ( or enemies , for that matter . ) I actually cared what happened to them . So who cares if the historical and linguistic details weren't 100% accurate ? ? This book is still unbelievably well-written , provocative , exciting , and can be serious or even funny at times . I would choose a side whenever there was a battle or something going on , and every victory or defeat was like my victory or defeat . I became immersed in the Japanese culture and actually have more respect for it now . Although the book may have a few ethnic slurs , it only protrays the characters ' feelings and doesn't represent what the author thinks about the cultures . Besides , the Japanese culture is treated with a lot of respect by Blackthorne especially at the end . It was really upsetting when people would commit seppuku so easily , but I guess that's just part of the story . Okay , so if you want an epic novel filled with war , excitement , intrigue , romance , etc . etc . , pick up Shogun and you won't be sorry . ( If the first 400 or 500 pages seem tedious , KEEP ON GOING ANYWAY ! ) Once you really get into the book , you'll be swept into the saga of Blackthorne , Toranaga , Mariko , and all the other colorful characters . Sayonara , and have a good time reading !
• 010 4  I've read between 200 and 300 books in my life and I only remember a handful of them . This book has been filed into my perminant databank . Every time I see Shogun in a store or hear someone talking about it , my heart leaps . When first picking up the book a common thought is My GOD ! It's two-thousand pages ! but as soon as you start reading it you wish it was three-thousand . Better yet , four-thousand . . . no , five-thousand . . . At any rate . It's hard to hate any of the charectors in this book , they are all explained thouroughly , all with their own vices and clever . And clever is the word ! All of the ' people of power ' have the very real and necissary cleverness that just leaves you aghast . Few books truely touch people and stay with them forever , but Shogun will be a part of ever reader forever . I laughed , I cried , I was so gosh darned glad it was part of a series = )
• 011 4  I remember back in the summer of 76 my father was very ill . He spent most of that summer in the hospital and my mother bought him dozens of books to read - cable was still in it's infancy and VCR's were few and far between . She focused on buying big thick books and Shogun was one of these books . I was nine years old at the time and utterly fascinated by it's thickness . When the mini-series aired four years later I watched all of it with my parents . I remember the plot being complicated and difficult to follow , but I did enjoy the overall atmosphere and , of course , the many action scenes . I especially liked the Ninja sequence . Now , over twenty years later , I've finally read the novel and enjoyed it tremendously . It's fast moving , engrossing and exciting . It does exactly what the best of this genere should do . It takes you away and makes you feel as if you're actually in another time and place . What more can one ask ? And yet I couldn't help noticing some of the other reviewers critiques of Calvell's incorrect use of Japanese words , expressions etc.The fictionalizing of historical personas , incorrect depections of various martial arts , and just his overall depiction of old Japan . So in defense of the late Mr . Clavell I'm going to address some of these points . First of all Mr . Clavell began writing Hollywood screenplays back in the fifties . You can see his name in the credits for Gunfight at the OK Corral with Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster . In his day fictional authors created thinly disguised fictional characters in place of the actual people and events . It was considered tactless to write a work of fiction with actual persons interacting with fictional protaganists . Mr.CLavell did just this when he wrote Shogun . When looked at in these terms it makes sense . As far as the arrogance of his changing of Japanese history and comparing it to a foreign film in which the name of George Washington is changed . . . . . . well there have been foreign films made in the past which have messed with our history . A good example would have to be the Sergio Leone westerns , but there are others . Like it or not , Clavell wasn't writing for a Japanese audience . His book was for readers that knew pratically nothing about pre-Tokugawa Japan.I have to say this is one reason why he has his characters using Judo and other modern martial arts . The average American in 1975 had heard of Judo , but I doubt they knew what jijitsu and others were . For those readers with truly curious natures I don't doubt they went on and learned more on their own . Never forget that this is a work of fiction first and formost . Does Clavell engage in some idolization of Japanese culture ? Yes . But is that necessarily a bad thing ? Clavell was a man who admired Asia . Writers have the privlige of putting their worldview into their work and Clavell does just that in Shogun.This is one reason why I've grown tired of reading fiction . But , in Shogun , I didn't find it overbearing and tiresome . This is a skillfully written piece of popular fiction , deserving of it's rating . It isn't a coincidence this book is still in print after twenty-five years or that the mini-series is available . To read this book and others like it one needs to check one's self-importance at the door and go in with a easy going attitude . Believe me I know . I used to be soldier and now I'm a cop . If I allowed myself to be infuriated over all the innaccuracies that I constantly catch in books and movies about cops and soldiers I'd never be able to enjoy anything . So relax and enjoy . It's lots of fun , and what more can one ask for ?
• 012 4  I've never had any particular desire to read anything by James Clavell . But one day I was in the bookstore , I decided it had been a long time since I had read a lengthy epic novel , and figured what the heck . The reputation Shogun carries certainly didn't hurt . By and large , the reputation is deserved . Shogun is on the whole a wonderful book . Clavell , while perhaps not a great writer , is an extremely good one . He has a strong sense for description , dialogue , and characterization , which make the 1152 pages go by quite quickly and enjoyably . John Blackthorne , an English sailor , manages to bring his ship to 1600 AD Japan . Almost immediately , Blackthorne finds himself in conflict with the precarious Japanese government , the alien Japanese society , and the jealously influential Portugese traders and mercenaries who have staked a claim . In order to survive , Blackthorne must adopt elements of Japanese culture , while making himself valuable to Toranaga , the most powerful daiymo of Japan . While Clavell took the plot of his novel from history , he also fictionalized quite a bit . Nearly every major character in the novel is based on a historical person . Toranaga is in fact Tokugawa , whose family took control of the shogunate , and with it control of Japan , for nearly 300 years . Blackthorne is loosely based on William Adams , who helped open up Japan to greater foreign trade . I'm not sure why Clavell took this approach , and for a little while , it's a bit of a distraction . Clavell's greatest strength is examining the various political games the protagonists play . Toranaga knows early on he is going to be a war with various rivals among the Council of Regents , and Blackthorne's arrival becomes an immediate benefit to Torananga's plans . Blackthorne finds himself raging at the xenophobic elements of Japanese society that view him as a barbarian , while fending off the Portuguese attempts to capture or kill him . He also falls in love with Mariko , a woman who is descended from an honorable samurai family , but who is also a Christian convert . Mariko herself is torn between her duty to her country and her liege lord , Toranaga , and her newly adopted faith , while reciprocating Blackthorne's love . Blackthorne's transformation from English barbarian into a civilized samurai is one of the most interesting and realistic progressions in fiction . The change in the Anjin-san ( as Blackthorne is called ) is a gradual thing , as Blackthorne struggles with the language barrier and customs , coming to accept the better elements of the Japanese society , while becoming more disenchanted with his own heritage . But at the same time he clings to the possibility of returning to England , covered in gold and glory for opening the door to the east for his native land . He never quite realizes that only one route is truly open to him . My only complaint is that I never felt completely connected to the characters . While I did like them , I was surprised that upon the deaths of a few major characters , I was not as emotionally impacted as in other fictional works ( Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove was always heartbreaking , for example ) . There were also times that I wondered if every conversation about scheming and political maneuvering was necessary . I was also irritated by Clavell's occasional use of minor characters as a means of moving the plot forward . For example , the wife of the villainous Yabu figures out very quickly certain hows and whys of Toranaga's plans . She never appears after this Lady Macbeth-moment , and really , the book only moves forward marginally . Also , I have to say , I would have liked to see the war proper . Clavell actually recounts this entire event in a couple of paragraphs on the last page of the book . Considering the whole novel has been leading up to this war , I felt a little frustrated . However , none of these complaints really overshadowed my enjoyment of this novel , or my rating . I will certainly be reading the rest of Clavell's Asian Saga , though not right away .
• 013 4  If you ever want to irritate your Japanese History professor ( assuming you ever have one ) , mention Shogun ( and pronounce it show gun while your at it ) . What bothers many of them is not just the glaring historical innacuracies , and there are plenty of them , but the westerners who mange to get through all 1152 pages and assume they're now experts in Japense history . Let's face it , the Japan in Clavell's Shogun is a fictional world , only slightly more real than Tolkien's Middle Earth . Don't mistake a work of fiction for a book on history because you'll be sorely mistaken . Another reviewer has pointed out a few of the martial arts related inaccuracies , so I'll spare you the hundreds of historical and liguistic ones . To defend Clavell only slightly , Japan's history is an ever changing landscape that can make a newly published history book obsolete in a few years . You wouldn't think so , but there are some history books on the shelves that paint just as innacurate a picture of Japan as Shogun does , and many of them are written by Japanese authors . That's the nature of the beast . All that being said , Shogun is one of my all time favorite books and probably had a little to do with me coming to Japan where I now live . It's so entertaining that it's easy to forgive all the historical blunders . Easy enough for me to give it a five star review . Shogun is an adventure story , a tale of forbidden love , and a political thriller all rolled into one . It may seem impossibly long if you're not used to reading big books , but believe me , it will be over before you know it . While Clavell's samurai may be flawed historically , they're no less fascinating , and many of the comparisons between the Japanese and Western characters are at least based in truth . The main character , Blackthorn is tossed into a mysterious and dangerous world where deception is a survival technique and violence is liberally dispensed . While the charcter begins the story as a stranger in a strange land , he eventually adapts , and ultimately prospers with only his wits to guide him . Blackthorn may be the main character , and the one Western audiences most identify with , but he is not the most interesting . Toranaga , based on Ieyasu Tokugawa , founder of Japan's last shogunate , is a man of almost superhuman intelligence and charisma , capable of escaping the most well crafted trap and turning the most unexpected events into an overwhelming advantage . Toranaga is more like a creature of myth than a part of history . So if you like epic yarn's full of intrigue , adventure , sex , assassination , war , samurai , ninja , sailors , geisha and swords and aren't too concerned about a history lesson , Shogun is for you . If you want to learn Japanese history take a class with an open mind . Oh , don't mention Crichton's Rising Sun either , that one isn't nearly as forgiveable as Shogun .
• 014 4  Despite what some reviewers say , Shogun is one of the better crafted historically based novels . What some people forget is that this book is of the fiction genre . Yes , that means the author is bound to take some liberties with the historical matter . If certain , rather minor historical inaccuracies really bother the pseudo historian in you , you might want to look elsewhere . But if you are in the market for one of the most complete novels ever written - Shogun might just be your book . This book takes a fabulous love story , lots of action and intrigue and wraps it in a torrid period in Japan's history . Lord Toranaga's character is actually based on the last true Shogun of Japan , Ieyasu Tokugawa , who conquered all the other territories , creating for the first time in centuries - a unified Japan . Many of the other central characters are based on true historical figures as well . I completely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Asian culture and in a terrific read . Clavell in my opinion is one of the best western authors ever to catch the true asianess of the Chinese and Japanese cultures he writes about . His attention to minute details of the culture is what really creates a lasting and sincere portrait of Japan in this novel .
• 015 4  KONNICHIWA ! I got Shogun for my birthday , and it is awesome . I had not been that interested in Japanese culture , and what I usually assosciated Japan with was what I saw from martial arts movies , etc . BUT , this book was awesome . It grabbed my attention , which is what I most liked about it . Even if you are not interested in Japanese culture , this book will make you interested ! It is the epic story of an english pilot who is shipwrecked and lands in Japan . The book follows his life in Japan , how he is intergrated into their society , etc . On the way , loads of Japanese culture is revealed to you . There is action , intrigue , everything you would ever want , as well as occasional humour . The characters are all different and unforgettable . I seriously recommend this book to anyone . You will not be displeased !
• 016 4  Shogun is one of my absolute favorite novels . James Clavell masterfully weaves a tale of gigantic scope - - the clash of the Orient versus the West , civil war , religious strife , forbidden love , and the rise of Lord Toranaga to the position of Shogun . To even attempt to tell such a tale is an astounding feat , and yet Clavell tells the story with such intimacy and power that the reader can't help but be swept away . John Blackthorne , English pilot of a Dutch merchant ship , accidentally finds Japan after a storm blows his scurvy-ridden ship ashore . He awakes to find himself in a beautiful , alien land - - a tall , blonde , blue-eyed European , he could not appear more out of place than among the short , delicate-yet-deadly Japanese . Language is just one of the many barriers to be crossed . While Blackthorne is horrified by Japanese brutality - - a samurai viciously beheads a peasant who fails to bow - - Blackthorne is also introduced to the wonders of Japan , such as the simple pleasure of a hot bath . Much of the story revolves around Blackthorne's education , and how he learns to become Japanese . While Blackthorne is one heck of a capable guy , Clavell wisely shows Blackthorne repeatedly struggling with the transition - - his difficulty learning the language is a nice touch . Along the way , Blackthorne meets and falls in love with the beautiful Mariko , who bears the burden not only of a tormented bull of a husband ( the warrior Buntaro ) , but also the curse of her family caused by a treacherous ancestor . Blackthorne also meets the wily , sadistic Yabu , who boils one of Blackthorne's crew members alive for his pleasure and is one of the most unreliable allies one could wish for . Blackthorne also finds himself a major player in Lord Toranaga's undeclared civil war . Clavell repeatedly throws Blackthorne and Toranaga from danger to peril , and their escapes are alternately achieved by daring , physical prowess , and intelligence . Further complicating matters are the Jesuits , who already have a strong foothold in Japan and have even converted some of the leading samurai . . . as well as Mariko . Clavell's handing of the struggle between the militant Japanese spirit and the seemingly contradictory Christian ideals is particularly sensitive . Like many of us , the Japanese fight to adopt Jesus ' teachings into their world , in which the practicalities of life and death ( as well as commitment to Japanese traditions ) makes Christianity more than a bit burdensome . Mariko's spirituality is particularly moving . Rich in detail , Shogun spends as much time on a major battle between ninja and samurai as it does a slow tryst between Blackthorne and Mariko as they travel to Osaka . Buntaro's perfect tea ceremony , an offer of reconciliation with Mariko , is heartbreaking in its sincerity . Blackthorne , with a great eye for detail , is forever marking the exquisite details of this foreign land , and the reader feels as if he has tramped the hills of Izu , strode the halls of Osaka castle , and sailed the Japanese coast by the time the book is over . Perhaps Clavell's greatest creation is Lord Toranaga , the ultimate puppet master in this epic . Through Toranaga's humanity as well as his genius , we appreciate why so many are willing to fight and die for him . . . and through him we see the true worth of the other characters . All in all , a wonderful masterpiece that you won't want to end .
• 017 4  James Clavell's Shogun may be his most famous work , and it is likewise his best as it presents a marvelous cross-cultural tale of adventure and intrigue in pseudo-historical 17th century Japan . The true artfulness of the story is carried off by the use of Blackthorn , the English navigator of a Dutch ship wrecked in Japan amidst a period of intense political turmoil . Although indeed based loosely upon the real-life figure William Adams , Blackthorn's importance to the story is to present a western viewpoint into the all-too-alien Japanese culture , and as Blackthorn becomes Anjin-san and ever more accustomed to his new life , so do we as the reader find ourselves increasingly immersed and drawn into that culture . The cast of characters truly suits the epic scope of the novel's story , and most are well-drawn , complex , and interesting ( though at times some of the minor characters may seem added as an afterthought ) . Shogun-to-be Lord Toranaga makes for an excellent impeneterable genius manipulating everyone like a master puppeteer , and Lady Mariko similarly offers an intriguing character that the reader comes to care for . The fact that Clavell spent years in a Japanese POW camp under the harshest of conditions during World War II ( something like only 1 in 15 men survived ) makes his portrait of Japan all the more remarkable , for he is able to portray the harsh and often alien life of 17th century samurai-laden Japan in a way that not only makes sense to the reader but that is appealing in the most romantic of ways to a degree far greater than that of Western society of the same period . I suggest this book heartily to any fan of historical fiction and particularly to those with an interest in Japan .
• 018 4  This book is - - as my dear old Grandma would have said - - a ripper . In case you are one of the 9 people who haven't heard of it , it is a consistently-entertaining adventure / political intrigue story set in medieval Japan at the dawn of the Shogun era , just prior to the expulsion of Europeans from the Japanese home islands . It is based on the true story of William Adams who , as near as I can find out ( there appears to be precious little in English on the man ) really did sail to The Japans in the early 17th century , and did indeed become a samurai . But as others point out , it ain't history , and it isn't a language lesson , either . It also purportedly contains anachronistic touches , such as the highly-stylized samurai code ( which apparently wasn't codified until quite a bit later ) , and so on . That aside , it's a pile of fun . This isn't great literature by any stretch , but it's interesting and engrossing . It's a bit too long , weighing in at something close to 900 pages , but if you are fascinated by the Japanese medieval culture , or by the political intrigue of the Elizabethan era , you'll enjoy this . If digression from accepted history bothers you , or a somewhat-windy style of writing irritates you , give it a miss . But speaking personally , this is the only Clavell novel that I've really been able to get into , and I've even re-read it a number of times .
• 019 4  I took this book with me on a three week vacation to Europe . It's huge , perfect for a looooong trip . For a synopsis of the book , see the other reviews . I study Chinese history , not Japanese , so I can not claim to know all the inaccuracies in this novel , but I thought it squared very well with what I know about Tokugawa Japan . My professor recommended it to our class , so I am guessing it is a good portrayal . . . My main issue with the book , and the reason i don't give it five stars , is because I thought some of the characters were flat and under-developed . Blackthorne , Lady Mariko , and Fujiko are stereotypes . . . the uncouth , heroic barbarian , and the patriotic , loyal Japanese . At times it was a bit much . The most well developed characters were Toranaga and Yabu , who are always leaving the reader guessing as to what their true motivations are . Other than that flaw ( and it is a minor one overall ) , ' Shogun ' is an addictive , action-packed read that will have you thinking about Japan long after you've turned the last page . Tip : make a list of the names of characters if you are unfamiliar with the Japanese naming system , as it can get very confusing . A list of the Japanese terms Blackthorne learns is also helpful .
• 020 4  For sheer narrative power and immersion in another world , few have done it better than Clavell in Shogun . The book grabs you from the first page and never seems to let go . It's an easy read , too , since you barely notice you're reading . ( I read it in three days back in the seventies , hardly stopping for air , and have needed bifocals with reading lenses ever since . ) Still the book has some unfortunate blunders including an allusion to a samurai using judo ( not invented until the 1880 ' s , while this book takes place in the 16th century ) and another shaking off his sandals to kick at an enemy ( quite out of character for such warriors since they were predominantly weaponed soldiers who would never choose to kick an enemy if they had access to one of their traditional instruments of war ; besides so-called karate kicking wasn't introduced into Japan , from Okinawa , until the 1920 ' s ) . The worst error , I thought , had Lord Toranaga playing chess , a western game , when it would have made more sense for him to be playing the indigenous Japanese game of go instead . But the Japanese warriors did have jiu-jitsu , the forerunner of judo , and kicking could have been a part of what they did ( however unlikely ) and Toronaga could have taught himself chess since he is portrayed as a quick study with a keen and very deep mind . And besides , these are minor quibbles . Basically , this is a powerful tale of intrigue and maneuvering as the players move about on the chessboard of feudal Japan , never certain who among them is really moving the pieces and who is just being moved - - at least until the end . The sense and feel of the culture , if not the details , also ring remarkably true and you do feel as though you've lived the entire experience when at last you close the book on the final page . And the characters , as the reviews following mine point out , are also based on real people ; the events on things that really occurred - - though Clavell granted himself literary license to manipulate and recast what he found in the histories to make his tale a more dramatic one . It's not a true story in that sense , but it's a great one and well worth a pair of glasses . - - Stuart W . Mirsk
• 021 4  For sheer narrative power and immersion in another world , few have done it better than Clavell in Shogun . The book grabs you from the first page and never seems to let go . It's an easy read , too , since you barely notice you're reading . ( I read it in three days back in the seventies , hardly stopping for air , and have needed bifocals with reading lenses ever since . ) A tale of a shipwrecked English ship's pilot in 16th century Japan , this book sweeps the reader through a murky world of political intrigue and bloody violence as the English protagonist , Blackthorne , encounters an alien culture and a world quite unlike any he had known before . Yet , for all its rich evocation of the medieval Japanese nation , the book has some unfortunate blunders including an allusion to a samurai using judo ( not invented until the 1880 ' s , while this book takes place in the 16th century ) and another shaking off his sandals to kick at an enemy ( quite out of character for such warriors since they were predominantly weaponed soldiers who would never choose to kick an enemy if they had access to one of their traditional instruments of war as this one manifestly does . . . and besides so-called karate kicking wasn't introduced into Japan , from Okinawa , until the 1920 ' s ) . The worst error , however , had Lord Toranaga , Blackthorne's captor and mentor , playing chess , a western game , when it would have made more sense for him to be playing the indigenous Japanese game of go instead . But the Japanese warriors did have jiu-jitsu , the forerunner of modern judo , and kicking could have been a part of what they did ( however unlikely ) and Toronaga could have taught himself chess since he is portrayed as a quick study with a keen and very deep mind . And besides , these are minor quibbles . Basically , this is a powerful tale of intrigue and maneuvering as the players move about on the chessboard of feudal Japan , never certain who among them is really moving the pieces and who is just being moved - - at least until the end . The sense and feel of the culture , if not the details , also ring remarkably true and you do feel as though you've lived the entire experience when at last you close the book on the final page . The characters themselves are based on real people ; the events on things that really occurred - - though Clavell granted himself literary license to manipulate and recast what he found in the histories to make his tale a more dramatic one . It's not a true story in that sense , but it's a great one and well worth a pair of glasses .
• 022 4  Perhpas I'm a bit behind the curve here , I mean Shogun has been published for quite some time , but given that I was a young lad during its height of popularity , maybe I can be forgiven somewhat ? This is the book that launched me on my literary quest to read through Clavell's Asian saga and , arguably , the best of that saga ( Tai Pan , King Rat , Noble House , Gai Jin ) . I bought a used version of the book on a whim at a yard sale and it sat on my bookshelf for nearly a year before I finally decided to see what it was about . Once I picked it up , I literally had trouble putting it down . I took the book with me on vacation and it was here that I found that the version I had purchased was only the first volume of a two volume set ! ! I immediately went out and purchased the whole book . Needless to say , I read the saga in chronological history as opposed to published history and found the whole series extremely entertaining . Additionally , as a student of East Asian history , I found Clavell's historical fiction to be educational as well ( much akin to Shaara's The Killer Angels ) . I recognize that it was not meant to be a historical document , but it certainly allows the layman to get a sense of Japanese history and culture . In short , despite being a doorstopping tome ( and thank goodness it is , I think I would have gone through withdrawals if it were any shorter ) , I cannot give enough praise to this book .
• 023 4  I enjoyed this novel . I could hardly put it down . The story is deep , captivating , exotic , sometimes visceral , and even perhaps erotic . The problem that I found with the book is the ending . I do not wish to spoil it for anyone , but it's a non-event . It's as if Clavell just decided after 1600 pages of writing that he was done . Everything that the story builds to is summed up in a paragraph on the last page . I felt quite unfulfilled by it all until I reflected on the rest of the novel . That's when I realized the trick : Clever boy ! What you assume the main story to be is not the main story at all . It's the journey . It's the life , and death , of the characters . It's the feelings , desires , and devastations . . . That's the story . It's really quite brilliant . Therefore , based on upon that realization I would highly recommend this book to readers ( Ages 18 and up , due to some of the content ) .
• 024 4  When I first read this book 13 years ago , I did so from cover to cover in a 2 - week period . It was so compelling that I couldn't put it down and , unfortunately , read it too quickly . I've gone over parts of it again and again since that first read , and every time I do so , I'm staggered by the complexity and skill of Clavell's writing . How can one writer do so many things so incredibly well ? Plot : This is foremost an adventure tale , and as such is plot driven . It has numerous twists and turns , and you will miss the subtlety of much of it unless you are careful . ( So explaining why I re-read this book periodically and always catch something new . What a kick ! ) Characters : These are not characters ; they are people . You will learn what makes them tick , how they feel , and just how true their interactions are with each other . How can a plot-driven novel have characters so amazingly brought to life ? I don't know ; but Clavell did it . Imagery : I enjoy studying personality types and social ecology , which this book parallels with imagery ( falcons , hawks , prey and hunter ) . History : I truly enjoy historical fiction because I invariably learn something - - which I did in spades with this book - - and because I'm enthralled by the transport . Clavell brings history alive through vast detail , making this historical novel incredibly credible . Politics : As one of the characters described another . . . Machiavellian . I could go on , but I won't . Just read it .
• 025 4  A lot has been said about the film , but you need to read the book to really appreciate the greatness of this work . James Clavell in Shogun portrays an absorbing picture of the mind and land of the Japanese - conceptualized gardens and elaborate tea ceremonies ; poetry and politeness - and all the subtlety beneath ; bushido - the way of the warrior , kimonos , sashes and swords ; karma - fate ; secret messages sent across fiefs by carrier pigeon ; and pissing , literarily , on deals to seal them . The cast Clavell presents is just as engaging - Mariko , the delicate , petite lady who courageously confronts guards outside Osaka castle in a dwell . She's samurai , she's Christian , and she's in love with Blackthorne . But beneath all these seemingly entangled affiliations lies one deep , unswerving devotion - and that is to her liege lord , Toranaga . Ian Blackthorne . . . the ` barbarian ' pilot who happens on the scene with a ship bearing muskets and cannon , vast potential for future warfare in Japan , and telling implications for whichever feudal lord can lay hold of this advantage . Blackthorne has come into a good thing , but as things go in this surreal world of willows , he just doesn't know . He's in love with Mariko . He's even slept with her - he thinks - but then , he can't be sure . He's Toranaga's friend . He's even saved the man's life once . But isn't he no more than just a pawn - valuable but expendable - in the hands of the powerful general ? And there's Toranaga himself , whose favourite pastime is falconry - and manipulating the people around him , studying them and playing them off against each other , like he does with his falcons . The novel is set in 17th Century Japan , but Toranaga looks as if he has already read Machiavelli's The Prince and Robert Greene's 48 Laws of power . The story is largely about his bid to become Shogun - Supreme Military Dictator - ruling by fiat of the Emperor , who then would really be just a puppet . Japan's current leader , The Taiko , lies on his death-bed and asks Toranaga what can best be done to ensure his little son will grow up to rule after him . The two men , The Taiko and Toranaga , have come a long way and have the greatest regard for each other . Toranaga is the only commander The Taiko has ever lost a battle to , and Toranaga sees The Taiko as the only leader who has ever been worthy of his followership . But now The Taiko is dying and Toranaga tells him , Let me go outside and commit seppuku [ ceremonial suicide ] , implying the obvious - that Toranaga himself forms the most apparent threat to The Taiko's son's ascension . The Taiko declines and constitutes a Council of Regents that will handle affairs till his son comes of age . The Council of Regents , Toranaga included , is made of the strangest bed-fellows and has Lord Ishido , Toranaga's arch-enemy , as Commander of the Heir's body guard . The Taiko reckons these people hate each other so much and will continue to disagree and cancel out each other's powers until his son is ready to take over . In the aftermath of The Taiko's death Toranaga continues to affirm his loyalty . He is passive and acts demure when Lord Ishido ( who happens to have fancy ideas of his own ) accuses and tries to provoke him . He is indignant when his own aides as much as hint at the begging opportunity for ultimate power . That is treason , he vehemently chastises them . But Toranaga is a great actor . In his private moments he is astonished that people can be so gullible . He continues to watch - plotting and plotting , weighing his aces , strengthening his position . And while he's doing this he's not above using any means he considers expedient , even if these means tamper with sacred ways or border on the amoral . He needs to have the foreign ship pilot firmly in hand - so Mariko's husband is ordered to divorce her , then Blackthorne's ship gets razed by unidentified arsonists . Toranaga commiserates and orders the immediate rebuilding of the ship , but reckons privately that the ship might just again get burnt sometime in the future , with yet another building reordered . Also , in the same breath he orders a couple of his grumbling generals outside a conference room to commit seppuku , but when his trusted aide and most senior commander , Hiro-matsu , asks to be accorded the same ` privilege ' to ease a certain shame , Toranaga tells him , I don't approve of useless death . Hiro-matsu's grandson-in-law had brought disgrace on his family when he committed an ill-advised breach of court , drawing his sword , unordered , on the Lord Ishido when the latter had insulted Toranaga . And , as events play themselves out and the hour of decision approaches , Toranaga is on the lookout for treachery , constantly gauging the loyalty of friends , family and associates . Yabu , the daimyo - or feudal lord - of Izu , whose support could really swing things for either side in the coming war , is supposed to be Toranaga's ally . They negotiate , parley and plan towards the event , and in the end Toranaga tells Yabu , But I don't trust you , and gets him to commit seppuku . Yabu's greatest pride as he composes his death-poem and kneels for the blow , is that he finds himself without fear . Toranaga also tests his son and heir , Sudara , telling him to put to put to death his children , all of whom Toranaga has already hidden beforehand . Sudara passes the test , but Toranaga , looking at him wistfully , feels sorry for his son , knowing that Sudara , who has been bred since he was young for the greatest responsibility , will never know any joy . But I'm different , Toranaga thinks . I love to drink sake and to ` pillow ' . . . And yes , I love to win . And win he does in the end : That year . . . the main armies clashed . . . By late afternoon Toranaga had won the battle and the slaughter began . . . Ishido was captured alive and Toranaga genially reminded him of the prophecy . . . Ishido lingered three days and died very old . . . Machiavelli and Robert Greene would have been extremely proud of Toranaga .
• 026 4  This review is from : Shogun ( Mass Market Paperback ) Shogun is my favorite novel of all time , the greatest novel there could ever be , and one of the most brilliant works of art and one of the greatest literary masterpieces in world history . I have read some of Charles Dickens ' masterworks such as Great Expectations and Oliver Twist , and Shogun compares quite favorably to those , and is of similar quality to another of my favorite authors , Alexandre Dumas , of The Three Musketeers series fame ( Dumas ' The Three Musketeers series actually includes more than seven different novels , including The Man In the Iron Mask , 20 Years Later , The Black Tulip , The Vicomte de Bragelonne , Louise de la Valliere , etc . ) , but Shogun also stands apart as the one consummate and all-perfect Western portrait of Japan which no other Western writer has ever come close to matching . Let me just say this : For any American or Westerner who has any affinity for or admiration of Japanese culture , this book is an * absolute * necessity to read . Clavell captures not only Japanese customs , history , and social structure , but the very essence of Japanese aethetics , spirituality and the Japanese outlook itself . What unfolds is an historical novel of such excitement , passion , love , beauty , grandeur , violence , tragedy , and inspiration , that our present world of the 20th and 21st centuries melts away and is replaced by a pristine and flawless rendition of the chrysanthemum world of 1600 , a time when edens still existed on Earth and great civilizations and countries like that of Japan were still unspoiled by the West . In Shogun pleasure houses are exalted as a gift of the gods rather than how brothels are debased as a sin in the West . An afternoon tea is elevated to the most refined , civilized , and sophisticated level imaginable , compared to the relative mediocrity of what an afternoon tea is in a country like England , where tea time is supposed to be a national tradition . For all of you under any other impression , the character of John Blackthorne is completely accurate from actual history . I did research after I read Shogun as a boy , and read distinct accounts in several library references about the almost-mythical Englishman who landed on the shores of Japan . But he did exist , and there are even books devoted exclusively to his history . He also is probably recorded in the Japanese municipal halls of records , and I'm sure research has been done on these . But as for the novel , Clavell has created an unforgettable story which will remain in your heart forever . And for people who do not understand the Japanese mind and spirit , there is no better thing to read than this book , which explains not only the Japanese attitude about politics , war , spirituality , self-discipline , duty , Japanese love , and Japanese outlook , but also even the Japanese view of sexuality and business and strategy and family relations and philosophy . This book is so all-encompassing , it's hard to even do it justice with a review . Suffice it to say that it is by far one of the best novels EVER written , it deserves to be worshipped as an immortal masterpiece , and it is cherished by me as a unique and priceless treasure which changed me forever after I read it .
• 027 4  Shogun is my favorite novel of all time , the greatest novel there could ever be , and one of the most brilliant works of art and one of the greatest literary masterpieces in world history . I have read some of Charles Dickens ' masterworks such as Great Expectations and Oliver Twist , and Shogun compares quite favorably to those , and is of similar quality to another of my favorite authors , Alexandre Dumas , of The Three Musketeers series fame ( Dumas ' The Three Musketeers series actually includes more than seven different novels , including The Man In the Iron Mask , 20 Years Later , The Black Tulip , The Vicomte de Bragelonne , Louise de la Valliere , etc . ) , but Shogun also stands apart as the one consummate and all-perfect Western portrait of Japan which no other Western writer has ever come close to matching . Let me just say this : For any American or Westerner who has any affinity for or admiration of Japanese culture , this book is an * absolute * necessity to read . Clavell captures not only Japanese customs , history , and social structure , but the very essence of Japanese aethetics , spirituality and the Japanese outlook itself . What unfolds is an historical novel of such excitement , passion , love , beauty , grandeur , violence , tragedy , and inspiration , that our present world of the 20th and 21st centuries melts away and is replaced by a pristine and flawless rendition of the chrysanthemum world of 1600 , a time when edens still existed on Earth and great civilizations and countries like that of Japan were still unspoiled by the West . In Shogun pleasure houses are exalted as a gift of the gods rather than how brothels are debased as a sin in the West . An afternoon tea is elevated to the most refined , civilized , and sophisticated level imaginable , compared to the relative mediocrity of what an afternoon tea is in a country like England , where tea time is supposed to be a national tradition . For all of you under any other impression , the character of John Blackthorne is completely accurate from actual history . I did research after I read Shogun as a boy , and read distinct accounts in several library references about the almost-mythical Englishman who landed on the shores of Japan . But he did exist , and there are even books devoted exclusively to his history . He also is probably recorded in the Japanese municipal halls of records , and I'm sure research has been done on these . But as for the novel , Clavell has created an unforgettable story which will remain in your heart forever . And for people who do not understand the Japanese mind and spirit , there is no better thing to read than this book , which explains not only the Japanese attitude about politics , war , spirituality , self-discipline , duty , Japanese love , and Japanese outlook , but also even the Japanese view of sexuality and business and strategy and family relations and philosophy . This book is so all-encompassing , it's hard to even do it justice with a review . Suffice it to say that it is by far one of the best novels EVER written , it deserves to be worshipped as an immortal masterpiece , and it is cherished by me as a unique and priceless treasure which changed me forever after I read it .
• 028 4  I know this is an old book by contemporary standards , but I just read it . WOW ! I became one with the book as Blackthorne , and the story and all the love and excitement and you name it . I could hardly put it down . Such a wonderful story if you don't get caught up in the historical facts of the time , which the book is obviously based upon . I was once a seafarer myself . I just became Blackthorne as I read the story , and I found myself loving Mariko too . How could could any man not ? ? ? hehe . Such a wonderful story of deceit , hate , brothership , obedience , love and hate , savagry and brutality , and just a new awakening to an Englishman who knew nothing of wordly life other than that of his loving England and his life on the high seas . I was just lost in the story . I wish I could meet a woman like Mariko today . Such a most wonderful and beautiful woman in fiction . I wish I could find one who exists today . If they only did , WOW ! ! ! hehe ? ? ? I recommend this book to anyone who is a romantic and loves a good yarn and is not upset by some of the violence and pictures of brutality .
• 029 4  I was first attracted to Shogun ' s world by the TV series . First puzzled , then absorbed , waiting each week for the next step . As soon as it finished I rushed to the book store to buy my copy . I wasn't disappointed . If the series is good , the book is better . Mr . Clavell constructs a master piece reflecting how two so different symbolic universes interact and react to each other . European vision and values embodied by Master Pilot Blackthorne , Japanese ones by Toranaga-sama and Mariko-san . Situated in the late 16th century Japan , at the critical transition from a feudal state to a centralized administration ( the Shogunate ) that will last until 19th century , the story depicts the struggle of Toranaga to be designed Shogun . . Blackthorne , step by step , discovers the values of Samurai code , learn Japanese , understand the complex psychology of the people surrounding him and fall in love with a noble woman . Finally he is converted in a true Samurai with a high rank in Toranaga's entourage . Mr . Clavell has done a great research of the period and presents it without boring the reader . The characters , even the secondary ones , are described in depth , penetrating their motivations and rationale . After Shogun I was eager to read more Clavell's books . I picked King Rat , Tai Pan and Noble House . They are good , but Shogun is a master piece . Enjoy this reading ! Reviewed by Max Yofre .
• 030 4  Shogun , by James Clavell , in my opinion is one of the greatest novels ever written . All of the characters play an intricate part in this story , whether their piece of the plot is big or small . There are several things that set Shogun apart from other novels , with the most intriguing being unpredictability . You never know what will happen next , or who the bad guy really is . It has a marvelous plot with one action-packed sequence following another . One of the only weak points in Shogun is the abrupt ending . It ends with man plot lines left unfinished , the aftermath of the book could be explained better ; and if these were different , it would make the story more complete to the reader when they finish reading . A paragraph at the end summarizes the fate of all the characters , it's not enough . Another 1,000 pages could easily have been devoted to the aftermath . The book is so absorbing that you just can't put it down , and you have a desire to finish it because you want to know what's going to happen next , but it's usually not what you think will happen . Before I was even done with the first 100 pages , I was engrossed , completely . I learned to love some characters and hate others . Clavell's style of writing is unique and sometimes confusing , but he usually explained his ideas later in the book in greater detail . The book is great , although it contains some themes that are rather mature , so I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers .
• 031 4  I must admit that the bulkiness of the novel was a bit intimidating when I first picked it up 10 years ago . When I finished it I was longing for more and since then I have reread it about 4 times . This book is excellent . If there is anything to add to the certainties in life that I will die and I will continue to pay taxes , it will be that I will read Shogun again , and again , and again . Clavell weaves a harmonious web of honor , duty , loyalty , devotion , and romance that leaves the reader in nirvana when the last page is finally turned . To go through life without reading this novel . . . Kinjiru !
• 032 4  First off , I am not a critic and never can be . I am a scientist , not a literary critic . I could never write such a wonderful novel as this , so I have no place criticizing it or the author . I am just giving my thoughts and how I felt and what I learned from the novel . There might be some spoilers if you have not read it and you read this , but I just recently read it , and also watched the mini-series on DVD . I was so happy I bought the DVD because I watch scenes from it allot , just like you might listen to a music CD of your choice . I don't think you can find it in a rental store though , so if you love the book , you will probably have to buy the DVD if you care to so . The movie is different from the book , and well you may or may not like the way things turn out . I didn't , but well Yoko Shimada was perhaps the most beautiful actress you may see in the movies , at least she was to me . She won a best actress award for her portrayl of Mariko , the Lady Toda . So it was worth it to me so I can just watch and dream about her . : ) I don't think you can fully appreciate the book in just one reading . Clavell is just so fluid in his writing that you get lost in his story and you don't think about some things as you read it the first time . Now critics probably will because that is what they do , criticize . But I read novels , when I have the time , for enjoyment , and this novel was very pleasing to me to read . You will find that there are several themes that run throughout the book . A love story , a tradgedy , and a triumph , really a rags to riches story , but one that ends so sorrowfully . Amidst all this is subterfuge , treachery , usery , duty and honor ( bushido ) , beauty and a love that can only exist on a spiritual plane . Mariko and Blackthorne became soul mates if you will . Should we all be so fortunate to have such love ? It was truly just a great chess game though , if you know how to play chess : Toranago , being the white king , who so adroitly manipulated all of his pieces and thus became Shogun . Mariko the Queen , Blackthorne the two rooks , he was that powerful I think . Alvito and Del'Aqua the bishops and Yabu and Omi the knights , because they were so treacherous and oblique . You will understand I think what I mean when you read the book . You won't get that from the movie though . Compared to the book , the movie is very shallow in its development of the characters , and in fact the themes . I will talk a little now about the plots and characters . First off , I had to do some research on Feudal Japan's history and economy to truly understand the story , You will never understand just how important and powerful and rich Blackthorne became in Japan unless you do . The man became legendary within I think 6 months of time , more powerful than just about any Samurai out there and his sexual prowess was renouned . At first he was sentenced to death , lived in a pit , urintate on , and subsequently sent to a death prison . Then through Karma ( I will state it that way ) he became a Hatamoto , Samurai and Chief Admiral of Toranaga's fleet with a small fief at first , but in the end , one that would make him a Lord of considerable note . He would become lord of Anjiro , Yokese and Itu , almost an entire province . I am somewhat of a historian of Medevial times , and I know just how precious that can be for that period of time . So at first he may be likened to a Baron , perhaps a Viscount in England , but in the end perhaps more like a Marquess . His annual income would be 4000 koku per year for just Anjiro , but my guess is it would have been raised to close to 10,000 koku per year for the addition of the other two cities , if the story had progressed . I would say he was like a Duke ( I think Toranaga thought of him as a brother ) , but he had no hereditary title so that would be forbidden , so Marquess is perhaps the best title . And the swords given to him , one would not realize I think on first reading just how precious they were , and how valuable , just as they would be in Medieval Europe . The swords given to Blackthorne by Toranaga were over 200 years old , and worth maybe 50,000 koku , maybe even 100,000 koku . They were named Oil Seller ( you will have to read the book to know why ) . He was extraordinarily rich with just his first stipend from Toranaga of 240 koku per year . Towards the end where he was given the Minawara sword by Yabu , who was given the sword by Toranaga , and that sword was claimed to be priceless to a any samarui , he became like a Bill Gates , if not in money at least legend . So in effect , Blackthorne became everything he wanted to be in England , but instead it happened in Japan which he came to love . In so doing though , he lost the two most precious things in his life ; therefore the tradgedy of the story . Unless you think about it , you won't realize why Mariko decided to give herself physically to Blackthorne after Yokese . There are many reasons , but most importantly , he was samurai . She knew by then she would be dead after Osaka but also that she loved him beyond measure . She wanted to experience the love and happiness she had never known in life before she died , so she put both her's and Bleackthornes life on the line so that she might experience the greatest joy she had ever known , more joy than I can expect in 20 lifetimes ! Even the fear of disgrace and that of her son if found out did not deter her from her need to be with Blackthorne . This of course was a crime punishible by immediate death by her husband , for both of them , Thus the extreme concern for Blackthorne's life . I love the dialogue in the book during the romantic scenes so I have tabbed them . Many of you might also . In the book he was given Kiku as consort and she would soon become his wife . It was the best compensation that Toranaga could give to Blackthorne for the loss of Mariko . He knew exactly what the two meant to each other and the incredible indescretion that they had purpertrated . He did not care because I think he loved them so much , at least needed them more than any others of his thousands of vassals . So this was Toranaga's gift to both Kiku and Blackthorne and in reality , Mariko . Kiku was worth 3000 koku , an incredible amount of money , one that most can't fathom unless they read up on the economy of the time . Blackthorne actually did love her in a physical way , and perhaps in a more emotional way too he found her so pleasing , but certainly not on the spiritual plane of Mariko . The movie was not that way though , which I found disturbing because they took so many passages from the book verbatim which was nice , but then displaced them in place and time , and really changed the plot in sections . Why would they change the ending ? ? ? You will read in the book where at first Kiku was absolutely revolted when told she was to be consort to Blackthorne The Barbarian . When told she would become his wife with a stipend of 1000 koku per year ( which would make her personally rich beyond her wildest dreams ) after the first born son who obviously would be samurai , and also that she herself would be made samurai by default , she was mollified . after all samurai is samurai and two swords are two swords and his sons will be samurai . He's hatamoto , one of my most important vassals , Admiral of all my ships , a close personal advisor - even a friend , Neh ? She would be wife to one of the most powerful samurai's in the land and one of the most legendary . She in effect would become legend just like Mariko . She was overcome with glee and became ecstactic because she knew that with Omi she would be nothing more than a non-samurai consort of low status if that . What would you expect from a peasant girl , sold and raised to live her life in the Willow World ? The greatest thing that could ever happen to her , that she constantly dreamed of , was that she would become Samurai , and how could the impossibile become reality ? But it did ; a true miracle , or Karma , who knows ? I am absolutely positive that if you are a romantic who takes pleasure in such stories , you will love this book .
• 033 4  I'm so glad my boyfriend got me to read this book . It helped me so much when I later lived in Tokyo , and gave me insight into the woman who became my dearest friend on earth , Yoneko Fukuda . Clavell so expertly weaves romance , adventure and intrigue it was hard to believe that he was actually referring to real events ( the character Toronaga is actually Ieyasu Tokugawa who built a dynasty that would last 250 years until the coming of Matthew Perry in 1853 ) . It was men such as Blackthorne who helped establish the English as the naval power they later became . As a Mexican , I was particularly amused by his references to the dung-eating Spaniards , and also the arrogant and corrupt ways of the Portuguese Jesuits . Also intriguing is how Mariko never quite wholly converted to Catholicism , reminding Blackthorne that she would always be Japanese first . This attitude has never changed through the centuries since . At first , the Samurai seem like murderous butchers , but one must always remember to place things in context . Surely every culture must have periods in its history they are not proud of ( remember how the white man forcibly conquered both Mexico and North America and left a trail of tears ) , but also note that there are both heroes and villains among the Samurai . It was very important for Japan's later development ( free from European direct influence and corruption ) that Toronaga ( Tokugawa ) was successful in driving the Christian barbarian from his land , otherwise Japan would likely not be so prosperous today . So , anyway , enjoy this book both as a great novel and as an historic document , albeit with fictional characters .
• 034 4  This review is from : Shogun ( Mass Market Paperback ) I loved this book . The clashes of religion , philosophy , and cultures was exciting and interesting to read . Clavelle including concepts down to the smallest details like eating meat made this book vivid and real . You really got a feel for the culture of medeival Japan and how an intelligent European may try to make his own station in such a place . The samurai were not seen as stereotypes , but possessed common ideals and also their own personalities and concepts of honor . Someone compared this to Shea's series but Clavelle blows him out of the water . I wish he would have written a sequal in the worst way .
• 035 4  I loved this book . The clashes of religion , philosophy , and cultures was exciting and interesting to read . Clavelle including concepts down to the smallest details like eating meat made this book vivid and real . You really got a feel for the culture of medeival Japan and how an intelligent European may try to make his own station in such a place . The samurai were not seen as stereotypes , but possessed common ideals and also their own personalities and concepts of honor . Someone compared this to Shea's series but Clavelle blows him out of the water . I wish he would have written a sequal in the worst way .
• 036 4  I believe , as do many , that Shogun is the best book I've ever read . The Japanese culture is so fascinating , proud and loyal . The characters in this book are so deep , the story so vast , yet everything gels together . The love story is one of the greatest I've read . The writer shares his knowledge of sailing , Japan and it's tradition in a very skilled way . You will live this book while you read it and it will stick with you for a long time . It is one of those books that you will read again .
• 037 4  It is difficult to give due credit without having to acquire similar writing skills to the author in the process . For a start , I could only wonder at how James Clavell came up with so many intrigues and what I can only describe as a culturally surprising and an exceptionally well-crafted plot . Based on my own cultural experiences , I could never have thought up most of the plot-twists . He must surely have made himself an expert on Japanese history and the consciousness of the period . Perhaps his plot also relied heavily on real examples from history . Were this not so , the power and fertility of his mind must have been phenomenal , for that is how good the plot was to my mind . From the moment I began reading this engaging book I became increasingly excited as I recognised how historically grounded it was . I was fortunate to have already read ' Samurai William ' , by Giles Milton ( and also a very good book ) , which tells the more-or-less true story of an English sailor named William Adams who went native and became samurai after being marooned in around 1600 . Straight away my imagination took me back to this almost unrecognisable Japan - a time when the Portuguese and Spanish were already established throughout the oceans , and the British and Dutch were just beginning to venture onto their ( supposed ) territory . I anticipated meeting some of my favourite historical figures once more , if this time adapted for fiction . Sure enough , Blackthorne , the hero of Shogun , soon proved himself to mirror Samurai William in many details , from being an English skipper with a small Dutch fleet that had first tried and failed to find a route to Asia via the Artic , to landing in Japan with many ships lost , to outsmarting Jesuit priests and winning so much favour with principle Japanese leaders as to earn himself the title , respect , and fife of a high-ranking samurai . Later on we meet other familiar characters , such as the extremely calculating Toranaga , who is , by other accounts I have read , loosely based on Tokugawa Ieyasu . The basic plot develops around these - and many other - elaborate characters . Shogun is the story of a foreign ' barbarian ' who must urgently adapt to a radically different culture if he is going to survive there . It is the story of a ' daimyo ' , Toranaga , who must outsmart a legion of other cunning and dangerous characters if he is going to gain control over Japan . As I have said , the mastery with which Clavell makes his plot conform to the philosophies of the Japanese consciousness is astounding . Of course , it is also a love story , and it is an extremely colourful look at one of the most intense cultures ever to exist on this planet . It is a look at alternative assumptions on complex social relationships , and the system of order , hierarchy , virtue , and honour is highly compelling . It left me wondering all the more about some of the things that we take for granted in western society . Shogun is a page-turner from start to finish , especially if you are a little interested in that period of Japanese history . I could not wait each day to begin turning more of its pages so as to learn more about this time and to find out exactly how even the smallest sub-plots would pan out . I recommend it very confidently to anyone who might be interested in such a book enough to peruse through reviews the likes of this .
• 038 4  I have read this book twice now , with about fifteen years in between . Both times I left feeling like I had walked away with a newfound knowledge into a society that I knew little of . From what I understand , Clavell was a prisoner of war during WWII under the Japanese and he related this experience in the book King Rat . I find it fascinating that instead of harboring an immense resentment towards this culture , Clavell embraces it and brings to life a novel such as Shogun . This book spans a well-crafted period of transformation on the part of Blackthorn , an English pilot for a fleet of Dutch ships that reach the end of its foreshortened journey on the shores of Japan . Though the book might follow Blackthorn on his journey though various levels and occasions of Japans society , it is really more a story that attempts to explain Japan and why it is the way it is . I have read King Rat and Tai Pan , and found both of these books to be lacking in some way . If you have started with one of these books and are hesitant to pick up Shogun , I beg of you to reconsider . Clavell is at the peak of his powers here and you will be satisfied with the pages that await your turning .
• 039 4  This is my favorite book of all time , I love it . I find myself rereading in constantly . The character and plot development are near perfect in my opinion . You almost get to know the characters on a personal level . I've read my fair share of excellent books in my few years , however , this is my favorite ; it's a real page turner . I know that it is a long book , but it's just one of those books that you can't put down after you start to read it . So just sit down , and start reading , trust me , you won't be able to stop . The book really is that good .
• 040 4  This book , along with Lord of the Rings and Animal Farm , are book I must marvel at . The wisdom , the history , everything perfect - yet with enough intended flaws to make it human . A thouroughly satisfying experience . After reading this tome of Feudal Japan you will feel satiated yet empty , you will feel glad you have been given the privilidge of knowing the story yet sad you have to leave the characters that have become almost like comrades to you . I reccomend this and all of Clavell's Asian saga , as I have read them all . By far , this is Clavell's most complete work , his most convoluted and sincere . This is a masterpiece .
• 041 4  Shogun is , without a doubt , the best historical fiction novel I have ever read . Clavell's attention to detail and knowledge of the era and location is remarkable . Also , I really enjoyed the Japanese lesson along the way . As the story goes along he translates a couple fo times the Japanese words and phrases he uses and then you get accustomed to seeing them and even using them yourself . I was actually able to impress some friends with my limited barbarian Japanese after reading this . Read it . You will not regret it .
• 042 4  My dad recommended Shogun to me when I was in high school ~ ~ but the sheer volume of this book put me off . I happened to stumble across it in a book sale and decided to try it . It happily accounted for all of my spare time for two weeks ( which I didn't have much of ! ) . This is an extremely fascinating read ~ ~ I am real glad I picked it up . However , I must warn you , half way through the book , the author seems to have hit a dry spell ~ ~ it was very dry and hard for me to get through it . In my opinion , it should have been edited out because it was not that relevant to the story . It does pick up again ~ ~ and it really keeps you thinking of Feudal Japan for a long time after . This story is about Blackthorne , a bold Englisher who stumbled across Japan in a storm , Mariko , a lovely Christian Samurai woman , who falls in love with Blackthorne , and Lord Toranaga , who is one of the regents ruling on the behalf of the Heir . This is their story ~ ~ a true soap opera of life in the times of Feudal Japan . This is a fun read ~ ~ it has it all . Samauri fighting for their lords , mystery , intrigue , plots , sex , romance , whirlwind battles and so forth ~ ~ I am glad I had a chance to read this book . It would have been a five if it weren't for that long stretch of irrelevant waiting period ~ ~ where time seemed to have stood still for over 200 pages ! Other than that , I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone ! If you're a history buff , this book is definitely for you ! 7 - 7 - 03
• 043 4  Shogun is one of my favorite novels , on several levels . One of Clavell's more admirable qualities is to write engaging , gripping very readable dialogue , without attempting to impress us mortal readers with his command of the English language . He writes the way confident , intelligent , interesting people talk ; seriously , playfully , intimately , introspectively . Even characters that are not meant to be intelligent or confident are written so as to clearly define their character traits . Also , Clavell's ability to progress his characters based on their innate traits is outstanding . Toranaga , the warlord , all powerful and utterly alone , navigates his life's plan to fulfill his destiny , with endless subplans and devised plots to achieve that aim . Blackthorne , with his unceasing quest to destroy his enemies and return home , finds his greatest happiness and rewards in the midst of his worst nightmares ; and finally understands that life is karma . Mariko , the opposite - that life is more than random events and unswerving duty , and that love is not only permissible but essential . There are other , powerful , influences in the story ; Omi , Blackthorne's detested enemy and a friend ; Yabu , provider and sadist ; Fujiko , the consort . All are remarkable characters . Lest you , the reviewer , think I'm reading too much into this , I assure you I am not . I've read Shogun at least 4 times . The first time was simply to enjoy a gripping story , but each time after that I tried to follow the thought processes and event progressions of the various central characters and how they interact . Each time I read the book there are subtleties that are made apparent to me , and I notice pivotal points that I had not focused on during an earlier reading . Each time I read Shogun , I get something more out of it . That is the defining mark of a brilliant and great novel .
• 044 4  I normally don't even like reading very much , but I started reading this book during my commute . I got so involved in this novel that I missed my stop several times and I spent every spare minute reading it . That was last year , and I just re-read Shogun a few weeks ago and was again amazed by what a masterpiece of literature it is . The characters are well developed in a highly intriguing plot with many twists you will never expect . All of the main characters ( approx . 10 ) are very intelligent individuals trying to survive in highly treacherous society . This is an extremely entertaining book - - I did not encounter one boring section in 1100 pages . Shogun is long , but it is well worth the time investment . I also recommend reading the rest of Clavell's novels ( Tai-pan , Gai-Jin , King Rat , Noble House ) because they all tie in together .
• 045 4  I read Shogun five years ago and I am currently reading it a second time . It is a wonderful , exciding and very readable book . I would give the book 5 stars if I was not frusterated with Clavell's manipulation of History . Knowing a bit about Japanese feudal history makes it difficult to adjust to the fictitious names , events , and cultural practices . Aside from that minor complaint , I would recommend Shogun to just about anyone . I don't doubt that I will be reading it a third time in a few more years . If you enjoy Shogun , you should try Taiko by Yoshikawa . I would rate Taiko a 6 stars if possible .
• 046 4  Look up the word ' sweeping ' in any dictionary , and you find James Clavell's Shogun . A masterpiece of plotting , character development , intrigue , romance , suspense , historical research , and human spirit , this book will stand the test of time and surely ranks as one of the great pieces of historical fiction ever written upon this earth . I have read it yearly for well over a decade and its power to amaze never dims . It is the only literary work that has ever made me weep for the sole reason that the story comes to an end , that there must be a last page . reading ' Shogun ' is a humbling , masterful experience .
• 047 4  I read James Clavell's master work for a grade 12 english project , and loved the book . Though it may appear to be a frighteningly long read , it is so well put together that you will devour this book surprisingly quickly ( at the expense of your social life , and a few warm meals ) . I was reading Michal Crichton's The Andromeda Strain back in grade 7 , and I have read non-stop ever since , and Shogun is far and away my favorite novel . The story-telling and character development is flawless , but much pleasure can also be taken from the lesson in Japanese culture that Clavell provides . I would also recomend similer books by Laura Joh Rowland ( Shin-ju , Bundori , and The Way of the Traitor ) .
• 048 4  This book is magic put on paper . This is the first book ( in sense of the timeline ) in Clavell's Asian saga , and details the adventures of John Blackthorne , and English sailor , who drifts into feudal Japan by accident . James Clavell is one on the greatest storytellers of the 20th century and it comes through in every page of this book . Clavell writes as if he had actually lived in Japan in the seventeenth century . His characters , both the Japanese and English come alive , in his pages and in your mind till you almost refer to them as real people . The plot and subplots weave together and create a tale that is an epic unlike any other historical novel . When you finish this book you'll feel as if you woke from a dream in which you were in feudal Japan , sharing in the adventures , tradgedies and triumphs of the chracters , you'll wish that it hadn't ended , you'll wish that it were more than the 1100 + pages it already is . I cannot recommend this book highly enough , it is a masterpiece that I will never forget .
• 049 4  Jimmy wrote a pretty gripping novel , and it should be enjoyed for what it is . Criticisms of his Japanese grammar inconsistencies are well-put , but criticisms of Historical innaccuracy seem misplaced when one considers this is a work of fiction . Sure , Toranaga is really Tokugawa , and Blackthorne Will Adams , but these are just the people on whom Clavell was trying to base his fictional characters . Don't expect to learn a great deal about the Japanese people ( I have yet to urinate with someone ) from this book . . . especially Japanese people of today . However , those who happen to know what Japanese people are like shouldn't take umbrage at the way people were in the late 16th-early 17th century . Of course Japan is mystical through the eyes of the English Blackthorne , he'd never heard of regular bathing before washing ashore . A good book and a fun read . . . Go for it , it will make you cool .
• 050 4  This book almost made me fail out of school . I read this book nonstop untill the point where my parents let me read it only on a check in check out basis . I would recomend this book to everybody .
• 051 4  I read _ Shogun _ as a young naval officer , while my submarine was in drydock for a year-long refueling overhaul , five years after I spent a summer learning celestial navigation and piloting aboard a sailing ship . It is still one of the three most memorable novels I have ever read . I was riveted by its portrayal of the bond among members of the Elizabethan era's tiny brotherhood of truly competent deep-ocean navigators . As this story unfolded , the phrase brother to corsairs . . . came alive for me as it never has before or since . In 1600 , when reliable measurement of longitude was still several generations in the future , an experienced voyager and shipwright who knew the latitude of The Lizard ( for example ) was worth many times his weight in gold to any nation . Pinning down a world-class navigator , as Toronaga does in _ Shogun _ , could give a leader a tactical advantage similar to the pinning of a well-placed knight in chess . Demonstrating mastery of the closely guarded lore of global navigation to a fellow pilot could also inspire his instant friendship and a claim on his aid when in danger far from home . As they built upon the great tradition of Magellan and El Cano , plus Drake , Cavendish and the other English sea dogs , captain-pilot John Blackthorne of the Erasmus and the Portuguese captain-pilot of the Black Ship inspired far more awe in me than did any other figure in this novel . Often overlooked , this subtle thread in Clavell's masterpiece is what holds the entire tapestry together . Without the navigators ' courage and skill , the Portuguese Jesuits , Spanish Dominicans , Dutch Calvinists and Japanese samurai in this masterful tale of religious and political intrigue would have lived out their lives in complete ignorance of one another .
• 052 4  Popular is a dirty word in literary criticism . ( Read Tom Wolfe's essay My Three Stooges in Hooking Up . for all the background you'll ever need to support that statement . Shogun is a great read and it is a great novel . It belongs with Dickens and Lonesome Dove in the canon of literary art that has achieved popular immortality . What sets it apart , especially from Dickens , though not so much from McMurtry , is that Clavell was pretty much a hack , aside from this transcendant achievement . King Rat , his first novel , is the only other book he wrote that rises above the mire of his almost unbearably melodramatic oriental dramas . Not that they don't tell a good story , but the writing in Tai-Pan and especially Noble House is just embarassingly bad ( and Whirlwind is unreadable ) . The man is dead and we'll never know the answer to how he could have produced this jewel amid his other rubbish , but it doesn't really matter . Forget the mini-series and the disgrace of having Richard Chamberlain ( ! ! ? ? ) in the lead role . Forget everything you ever heard or thought about this book and popular fiction as art . Read the first 50 pages and try to stop.The book will stay with you forever . You will take scenes out and replay them in your mind and treasure them . Thank you , Mr . Clavell , wherever you are .
• 053 4  When I first read Shogun in 1994 , a Japanese girl who went to my school saw me with the novel and asked how I liked it . I told her I liked it a lot . She said that's fine but keep in mind it has about as much validity in relation to Japanese history as the tales of King Arthur do to Britain of that era . Point taken . The basic premise is this : In the year 1600 , an English ship's pilot named Blackthorne , while leading his privateering vessel across the Pacific in search of the Spanish treasure fleet , crash-lands on the shores of the great island kingdom of Japan . Blackthorne and his crew are catpured by the cruel Japanese samurai and held captive - - - sometimes under torture . Japan is at this time barely a generation removed from first contact with Europeans , and has a delicate alliance of sorts with the Spanish , with whom they trade to mutual ( though self-serving ) advantage . Blackthorne and his crew find themselves confronted by Spanish religious figures who seek to convince the Japanese of the danger the heathen English present to this island of the gods . However , Blackthrone interests one of the island's two principal warlords , who interrogates Blackthorne and finds interest in him . Blackthorne is reprieved from a certain sentence of death and is given opportunity to learn Japanese customs and the Japanese language . He becomes embroiled in the seething politics of the island , then on the brink of a potentially terrible civil war between rival factions . Blackthorne at first desires only to return home to England , preferably with many riches in tow , but gradually he comes to feel the native way of life is superior to that of his own people . He falls in love with a beautiful noblewoman , serves the warlord who has elevated him in status to that of samurai , and then becomes part of the intricate , dangerous struggle for survival and dominance underway around him in a hostile , gloriously unique island empire . Shogun has a highly entertaining story with many released human emotions , enough action to keep it from ever getting boring , and in its details on Japanese culture and the religious / political clashes boiling over among the competing European nations who are visiting Japan for the first time , it is still , fantasy aside , the kind of novel to vanish inside for a couple of wonderful weeks . I really loved the people inside Shogun and found its story excellent in virtually every detail . The villainous Lord Yabu has to be one of historical fiction's mightiest examples of a figure one loves to hate . He went a long way toward stealing the story with his tireless ambition and unabashedly evil heart . The east-west love story that found its way into the center of this story meant less to me than details of the coming civil war , and I almost thought it at times got in the way of other parts of the plot I was more interested in and wanted to see move forward . I think it's fair to say that in Shogun , as in the other Clavell novel I read , getting there is half the fun . By that I mean the events as described form the basis of what makes up Shogun , and ultimately there IS no final act here . All through the novel I kept waiting for war to come . I kept expecting that so much of what I was reading was preparation to the conflict for supremacy that was the soul of the novel . But not so . Shogun ends before the long-expected war unfolds , and that was slightly unanticipated . This is a complex , interwoven novel of races and civilizations meeting for the first time , of events macrocosmic and microcosmic , and of mutual culture shock in a foreign time and place where a number of remarkable people are cast head-first into events much larger than they are , and for which their pasts provide them with little preparation .
• 054 4  This book has been reviewed and re-reviewed so many times on this site , that I will not trouble you with another rehashed plot synopsis or analysis of the characters . Instead , I give you my core impressions of the novel . Shogun , in all of its titanic 1100 + page glory , humbles the reader with its sheer grace and majesty . Clavell crafts his characters in painstaking , loving completeness , and is just as attentive to the plot and finer nuances of the book . You will fall in love with the characters , exult in their triumphs and cry for their failings . It is a story about love and honor and loyalty and doubt and searching and a hundred thousand other human passions . Clavell posesses a gift for bringing foreign cultures and places alive with vivid , piercing reality . You will feel the cold bite of steel , smell the sea air off of Osaka , see the radiant , red dawn before a battle , and cherish the brilliant world that Clavell has woven together so perfectly . This book is perhaps the most real work I have ever read . Every sense is catered to , every emotion played upon , every passion and horror felt with stunning truth . I can think of no greater praise than to say this : You will lose yourself in this book , completely . And you certainly won't mind .
• 055 4  Don't let the length of the book deter you from reading it . I was highly engrossed in this novel , loving learning the culture and language , history , and courageousness of the characters of this book . It made me want to go visit Japan and experience it for myself .
• 056 4  When it comes to the late James Clavell , I am completely biased . In spite of some pretty God-awful mis-steps like Gai-Jin and the execrable Whirlwind , they never diminished his powers as a superior writer and story-teller . Shogun , alongside the much shorter and harrowing King Rat , is a testament to his amazing talent . This is , however , a work of historical fiction , crammed full of inaccurate and manipulated historical information bent to serve the story . So , if you are looking for a primer on the history of Japan , this is not the book . But , Clavell's research does contain little gems about the life of everyday Japanese before the Battle of Seikighahara ( sic ? ) and the inter-class , social , and gender relationships that did so much in defining an amazing culture . He also manages to weave both European and Japanese power-politics into the tale with a great deal of sometime-relative accuracy and a deft hand . But , even against his epic backdrop , the characters , high and low , both European and Japanese , are beautifully developed to the point they become almost tangible , all revolving around the fateful love affair between the brilliant and beautiful aristocrat Lady Mariko and Captain-Pilot John Blackthorne . ( Her letter to Blackthorne at the end of the novel is achingly beautiful prose ) . It is so easy for any writer to lose people when paining on such a huge canvas , but Clavell does not . And his skills at merging disparate plot threads into a coherent and penultimately readable narrative are so good , they are worthy of study . This made the story unpredictable and continually fresh , keeping me turning pages . This is one of those stories I did not want to put down , and disappointed me when it was over . Again , this is not a history lesson . But as a novel , meant to entertain and enliven , it would be very hard to get much better . So , if the reader takes Shogun for what it is , I cannot see how anyone could be disappointed . Recommended without reservation .
• 057 4  What would I compare Shogun to ? The Count of Monte Cristo . Monte Cristo is my favorite book , but Shogun is not far behind . Both books are surprisingly vivid in their detail , describing the period and setting in a way that advances the plot . Clavell does not waste time painting the backdrop , rather you feel it as the characters interact and pickup things in a natural , intuitive manner . The plots have a similar feel as well : while you follow multiple characters throughout the story , there is a defined main character that you are drawn to . And in both Monte Cristo and Shogun , our main character truly grows and develops from a simple , one-dimensional entity to a rich , complex , intricate man who we empathize with and struggle alongside . Externalities play a much larger role in Shogun , so the plot is by necessity more reactive , but how each character is manipulating others makes this aspect more intriguing and beguiling . You are never quite sure who to trust , and every chapter seems to bring about a need to reevaluate a key player as you see another ( always plausible ) side ! Of course both books are about outsiders attempting to manipulate their new society for their decidedly personal aims , and the conflict is driven by their frustrations and failures . Though in this case Shogun shines a bit brighter : Blackthorne is a more human , understandable character who I connected with ( as a Westerner reading about medieval Japan ) than Dantes ( as an American reading about a Frenchman re-integrating into bourgeoisie European society ) . And finally , both books are long . My copy was over 1100 pages , but the pace always moves and the story constantly builds upon itself making the first 200 pages more and more relevant and yet a stark contrast . The climax was quite heart-breaking and unexpected , I applaud Clavell for both his power in writing and ability to really define his characters . The 100 or so pages after this bit seem epilogue and were written to perfectly reflect the drained emotion and shock that such a subtly long buildup and perfectly delivered bang created . Again , much like the Count of Monte Cristo . I would recommend clearing your reading schedule and giving yourself some time to really read Shogun and enjoy it , it was well-worth it .
• 058 4  This book was a very worthwhile read , almost worthy of a 5 star rating . There are two reasons for a 4 star rating : one , there are parts of the book that are slow ( although I guess that's to be expected in a 1,000 page novel ! ) ; second , the ending is just not good enough for such a great book . There's just so much detail in the first 990 pages that the ending seems rushed - almost as if Clavell or his author decided that the book simply had to be less than 1,000 pages and they couldn't cut from anywhere else . With all that said , I am glad that I read the book and I would recommend it to anybody that enjoys fiction .
• 059 4  This book amazes me . It is huge , not only in the number of its pages but in the its scope , which is no less than the creation of a nation from a collection of warring feudal territories . In a book of this size one expects a certain amount of repetition and stretches of boring exposition . There are books by James Michener , for example , in which I can skim dozens of pages before needing to return to attentive reading . There are few such passages in Shogun : the book never loses its narrative drive . One also expects in large books focusing on historical or pseudo-historical events , to find a lot of half-drawn characters , with the author focusing on a few rounded characters to draw the narrative along . Shogun , however , boasts dozens of finely imagined characters of all classes , from Mura the peasant to Blackthorne to Toranaga , a fictionalized version of Ieyasu Tokugawa . In many cases , as with the feudal lord Yabu , Clavell succeeds in getting his reader to understand and sympathize with essentially negative characters . This is no small achievement . To describe the book as epic would be a cliche if it were not literally true . Clavell employs epic techniques such as digression to support his plot . For instance , a couple of scenes involve gifts of swords . Clavell , when the sword in question is mentioned , describes the its origin and history in some detail before returning to the plot . This technique is as old as Homeric epic , in which articles of armor or gifts are described at length to enhance the dignity of an important scene . I've read the book twice , once thirty years ago as a high school student and again recently , and enjoyed the book both times . My only complaint is that Clavell has an Englishman's view of Roman Catholicism and , in particular , the Jesuits . On one hand , this supports the novel's historical feel : Englishmen like Blackthorne really saw the Catholic church in the way Clavell describes them ( just as Catholics of the time saw Protestants as heretics ) . On the other hand , Clavell's own lopsided view of Catholics leads him to produce the few less than 3 - dimensional characters in the book : the priests - - three Jesuits and one Franciscan - - are either cynical schemers ( the Jesuits ) or fundamentalist lunatics ( the Franciscan ) . Again , it adds veracity to Blackthorne's character that he - - Blackthorne - - holds these prejudices , but they seem to have been Clavell's prejudices as well . A reader with good sense will overlook this flaw .
• 060 4  I've just finished Shogun by James Clavell . The book is a bit long ( 1200 + pages ) but it's a terrific read . The plots and subplots are excellent . The characters ' development , the Japanese culture , the conflicts between the Japanese and the European cultures , between the Catholics and the Protestants , the spread of Christianity in Japan , etc . are vividly described . And there're lots of samurai ( and ronin and ninja ) battles .
• 061 4  Shogun will always be a book . They can't make it into a successful screen event . Why ? Because it is about the writing . The plot is one line : Western Civilization invades Japan . The plot is one line : Dutch Captain lands in Japan and learns their culture . The plot is one line : Feudal Lords battle for the rule of Japan . There are other one liners . A movie would have to choose one . Clavell interweaves all these and more . BUT Beyond that , this book is beautifully written . You can say that about many books , but this one is like a flower that is a twelve course meal that goes on and on , getting better and better . Really , the only other books you could compare it to are Clavell's own works . King Rat was autobiographical and took you into the complexity of a prison camp . Tai-Pan was historical and every son and father can eventually identify with the main characters . Noble House was sort of like Dallas 2 . But Shogun . . . you are looking at a masterpiece . And like a masterpiece , you can read it again and again . Get it .
• 062 4  This book is marvelous . Some reviewers have taken Clavell to task for literary and stylistic problems , but I am a reader not a writer , so these reviews were unimportant to me . Several reviewers commented on the ungrammatical Japanese expression in Shogun . Some reviewers also point out that Shogun is also apparently historically / culturally inaccurate in many respects . Those criticism are perhaps valid ; I am not an expert on such matters , and thus cannot judge their validity . But , still , those reveiws were beside the point for me . There is in fact a book called Learning From Shogun that may be downloaded for free on the web , a book in which several scholars critique Clavell's Japan of 1600 . And these experts on the whole seem to appreciate what Mr . Clavell has accomplished . I have read Shogun several times over the years , and each reading leads me to new places . The first time , I was in my mid-teens and I remember how the book opened my eyes , sort of in the way of , Wow , there are really people who lived like that ? Because I was raised in a very insular and homogenous place , the first reading was very valuable to me . When I read Shogun again when I had begun to seriously play in the world of work , I began to appreciate the complexity of Toronaga's endeavors in balancing the interests of so many factions . Still another reading led me to the small thrill of discovery . Gracia Hosokawa ( Mariko ) likely never met Will Adams ( Blackthorne ) . She was a catholic . She did commit suicide in a sense . Her husband , Hosokawa Tadaoki , was nothing like Buntaro , and was in fact a cultured and refined warrior , much like his artistic father , who in turn was nothing like Hiromatsu . And after Sekigahara , Tadaoki was assigned by Tokugawa Ieyasu ( Toronaga ) to Kokura castle ( now a tourist attraction ) , which gave Ieyasu a strategic foothold on the significantly Christian island of Kyushu . The Hosokawa's son , Tadatoshi , was in charge of Kokura after his father died and helped end the Christian threat to Japan by participating in the massacre of about 40,000 Christians . You have to wonder what Tadatoshi thought about that assignment given his mother's faith . And it is ironic that right over the mountain from the castle ruins where the massacre happened is Unzen national park , a place of stinking hot springs , nicknamed hell . This latest reading was also valuable . It reawakened in me an appreciation for simple good manners . The book shows how something as foundational as good manners can be an important tool in life . The book demonstrates that manners are not only a form of respect , a simple gift to extend to other human beings , but also a shield to protect oneself , and even a strong weapon against the ill-mannered . I literally find myself more conscious of my words and actions in every-day life . For me , this books rates a 5.5 for the simple reason that I am a better man for having read it .
• 063 4  This review is from : Shogun ( Mass Market Paperback ) Quite frankly , one of the best books I have ever read , even though the ending disappointed me .
• 064 4  Quite frankly , one of the best books I have ever read , even though the ending disappointed me .
• 065 4  That's not an exaggeration , speaking for myself . I picked this up from a friend who was donating books to Goodwill , and I wasn't really too excited about it ; I had no major interest in Japan . But she assured me that it was an awesome book ( my copy is a 2 volume hardcover set that is old and worn , and I will never give it up ) , and another friend agreed . What I loved about this the most is that Clavell's plots are so cunning ; they keep you guessing . Almost every page , or at the least every chapter , I'm saying to myself , No way ! I didn't see THAT coming ! Holy crap , what ? Another thing is the characters ; they really are 3D , each with his or her own motivations and development through the story . In fact , Clavell often switches perspective from one character to another , giving you a glimpse into what they're actually thinking , not just what they're doing . Sometimes he even does this within a scene where characters are interacting ; one says one thing , and then thinks another thing , and then another says something and thinks something else . The * scheming * that's constantly going on between the daimyos and their vassals is truly epic . The central character , Blackthorne , is complex and interesting in and of himself , but the end of the book left me pondering , Was he truly the central character ? Arguably not , and it's not until the very end that it becomes apparent . But his character's development is the most interesting , I think , and it gives a fascinating look at some of the cultural differences between East and West . I could write for pages about how much I love this book , but I'll leave it at that . This is my first Clavell novel , and I'm tempted to just start over and re-read the thing immediately , but instead I'm going to buy another of his books and see how it compares . James Clavell is a gem that I wish I'd discovered years ago !
• 066 4  This a remarkable novel on every account , and a true pleasure to read . Take the opening , which begins with a Dutch trader , the last of his fleet , caught in a storm in uncharted waters . Look at how skillfully Clavell introduces us to each character , weaves in the backstory , and makes us care about Blackthorne . And look at that language - bold and clear with gritty verbs that anchor you to the moment , so you feel every shudder of the keel . Later on there's two more journeys by sea , including a battle , and it rings totally authentic , taking you in twist by twist . And what adds to the suspense is you don't truly know the intentions of the two captains - everything is shaded in grey , so that they themselves aren't sure just how far they'll take it , or for who they're actually fighting for . The line of friendship tightens and slacks and finally snaps , over and over again . In just this way , Clavell's characters are never shallow , but always surprising and full of depth . In one part a woman is beaten by her husband , and another character goes to kill the husband , but the twist is how she actually drove her husband to it on purpose . And then there's the further surprise of why . Everything in the novel has such richly rewarding layers of meaning , with espionage , blackmail , sabotage , lust , and betrayal all moving under the surface of this grand epic . With Blackthorne's fate always at risk to treachery , Shogun reads more as a thriller than historical fiction , and in fact Clavell meant it to be that way , basing the story on Dutch trader Will Adams , but changing much to suit his tale . Politics , religion , and conquest play a dominant role , and the line often blurs between them as each side tries to recover from and capitalize on Blackthorne's arrival . What adds to this is how Clavell knows when to heighten with drama and also when to let off the tension with philosophy and romance . He mixes poetry with swordplay , religious conflict with pissing from a tower to seal a pact . The twelve-hour miniseries was very well done , and yet there's so much more depth and intrigue in the novel , where you discover just how resourceful these characters are . For one such example , in the miniseries Toranaga's ship is greeted at the fishing village by about fifty faithful samurai . In the book there are three thousand , plus five hundred cavalry , and they're not under his control at all . In fact , he's lucky to escape with his life . Not restricted by time , budget , or censors , Clavell doesn't hold back , including one breath-taking ten-page scene involving Mariko and hundreds of samurai . At the end of it , one of the samurai says , When I saw the Lady Mariko pick up Yoshinaka's sword , I thought I'd die with pride , and you feel the same . Toranaga-sama ( based on Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu ) is one of the most compelling characters you'll ever discover , and if you haven't seen the miniseries , look him up on YouTube ( Shogun : First Meeting with Toranaga ) to get an idea of Toshiro Mifune's portrayal . In the novel Toranaga's described as having a pot belly and big nose , which contrasts well with his ruthless military capabilities , but Mifune so inhabited the role , and strove for such authenticity , that it's difficult to see anyone else in the part . It's a long book , for sure , and yet at the end you'll only wish there was another book to follow it . One of the factors that makes this novel such a rewarding experience is how Clavell seems to know everything about feudal Japan and how effortlessly he fills us in without it ever becoming a history lesson or guidebook . There's a great deal of falconry , as well , for anyone interested in that field , and befitting the culture , there's plenty of sex , so it's not for young readers . What's amazing is that Clavell could write with such understanding and reverence of the Japanese way of life . During WWII , he was captured in Java and spent three years in the Changi concentration camp in Singapore . This experience became his first novel , King Rat . And yet Clavell later dedicated three years writing to this novel that shows how civilized Japan was over the Europe of its day . As Clavell said , It's possible to end up admiring an enemy . In the end there's only two things I didn't like about Shogun . First is that even though there's important journeys by both land and sea , there's no map to clue you in to just where they are , how far they're going , or what lays around them . If anyone knows of a good online map of feudal Japan ( 1600 ) , please post where to find it ( but don't look for Anjiro - the village's name was actually Ajiro ) . My only other grudge is that Clavell didn't continue the story . I can see why he ended where he did , but I didn't want to leave these characters or the land they so richly inhabit . * * * Click below on Comments for the full Cast Index and Japanese phrases . * * *
• 068 4  If you're interested in a summary of the plot , read another review . If you're wondering whether this work of historical fiction is more fiction than history , the answer is yes . However , don't let that put you off the book . Clavell ( who was imprisoned by the Japanese in World War II ) was very knowledgeable about feudal Japan , and you'll learn a lot . The book is set in the years leading up to the Battle of Sekigahara , which took place in 1600 and established the Tokugawa line of shoguns , which ruled until 1868 . In the novel , Tokugawa becomes Toranaga . Blackthorne himself is Clavell's rendering of the historical William Adams , a shipwrecked Englishman who spent his life in Japan . The Taiko refers to a name actually taken by the ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi , whose young son , also a historical figure , is at the center of the political calculations made by various characters in the novel . In addition to the historical background and the lively plot , what makes this novel interesting is Clavell's interest in juxtaposing the mores and cultures of the Westerners ( Elizabethan sailors , Portugese traders , Jesuit and Franciscan priests ) with those of the Japanese . While Blackthorne is gradually drawn to the more pleasing aspects of the Japanese culture ( cleanliness , food , dress , politeness , sex , bravery ) , he also observes the brutality and authoritarianism of its ruling class and the absolute subordination of its peasants . Clavell's images of unbathed , stinking Westerners chowing down on greasy hunks of meat are indelible and amusing , but his images of groveling villagers trembling with fear at the arrival of their feudal lord are equally indelible - - - and not so amusing .
• 069 4  I first read this novel not long after it was first published in 1975 , and have just finished rereading it for the third or fourth time . By working within the historical framework of the times , James Clavell brings life to feudal Japan in a way that makes many of us thirst for a greater knowledge of north Asian history and culture . It also made me question more critically the influences of Europe within this region . ' Shogun ' also provided me with a hero I could admire , some idealistic behaviour I could aspire to and some wonderfully real tensions between different cultures , beliefs and values . I have enjoyed most of James Clavell's novels , but none so much as this one . Highly recommended . Jennifer Cameron-Smith
• 070 4  I loved this book ! Do not let the length of the book scare you . Once you get into it the plot will intrigue you and the pages will fly by . The best way I can describe this book is by comparing it to the reality show Survivor . It is like an entire series of that show , with the characters making deals , pretending to be loyal , and backstabbing just trying to find ways to survive another day . There is also a nice romantic love story mixed in among all the action . The characters are very real and you learn to love and / or hate them throughout the book . I also found it very intersting to learn about the Japanese culture . One that still exists today . One quick piece of advice : Use a bookmark and on it write down the characters , their loyalties , spouses , family , etc . This can be an overwhelming book because there are a lot of characters . I found myself having to search backwards in the text to find out who was loyal to who , who was related to who , etc . I think you will enjoy and get more out of this book if you take a few notes along the way . But please , don't let this keep you from reading the book .
• 071 4  I loved Shogun . Unlike most novels that proclaim themselves as historical fiction and focus mainly upon a fictional idea while leaving the historical contribution only to time and setting , Shogun was a fictionalized telling of the real-life development of the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868 . For those unfamiliar with the term , a shogun is a feudal lord who rules solely by military domination . Shogun gives a immensely fair depiction of the somewhat confused historical perspective of Japanese living . The novel involves serious social struggle between individuals whom cannot speak the same language or even languages of the same basis of foundation similar to that of Latin languages . There is also a biased approach taken to the portrayal of the Christian conversion which was being initiated during this time in Japan . A lot about basic Japanese custom , language and thought-process is used to help develop truly special characters and great interactions between typical European custom to that of a Japanese one . Also , Clavell writes with an incredibly consummate vocabulary with which I would suggest to anyone reading this novel to have a dictionary handy . I would recommend this novel to anyone as a great novel to read whether just for the good storyline or for an introductory immersion into Japanese culture and history . Also , despite of being of immense length , I found myself storming through the novel at an incredible pace . There is also an extraordinary miniseries available , which starred Richard Chamberlain as the irascible John Blackthorne . Although , you might find it a bit dated ; for it was produced in 1980 , it is still a great movie .
• 072 4  Put simply , Shogun is one of those truly brilliant books which you honestly can't put down . The time to turn out the light and go to sleep will always be after . . . . . just one more chapter . This book has it all , death , war , love , sex , betrayal , suspense . Get ready for a great read .
• 073 4  I never wanted the book to end . It is a story of love , hate , honor , shame , war , religious conflict , cultural divides , tenderness , brutality , loss , loyalty , treachery , victory and hope . Clavell weaves it all in a most gripping story . The full 1982 miniseries is available on DVD also and will make you want to get the book for the full impact .
• 074 4  James Clavell's 70 ' s novel Shogun is a long but enjoyable read . Set in the most defining moment of Japanese history - the time of its European conquest / exploration - it tells the story of Captain Blackthrone , who transforms himself from a bigoted Brit to a man who fully appreciates a foreign culture . The book is full of intrigue , adventure and romance . The historical details were well-researched and full of shocking authenticity . During this period of conflict between the Japanese and Americans / Europeans , many atrocities were committed on both sides . The characters are plentiful - Lord Toranaga , Lady Ochiba , Father Alvito , Lady Toda , Lord Ishido , Lady Sazuko , Lord Yabu , Lord Kiyama , Council of Regents , Lord General , Jan Roper , Kasigi Yabu , Toda Mariko , Lord Jesus , Lord Zataki , Lord Hiro-matsu , Lord Sudara , Father Sebastio , Lord God , and Lady Kiri . The principal characters develop and change throughout the novel . They are characters whom we care about , particularly Blackthorne , Lady Kiri , Father Alvito , Lord Yabu and Lord Kiyama in my personal opinion . The descriptions of kimonos , teahouses , samurai weaponry , ships , temples and castles are all very vivid . This is probably the greatest historical novel about ancient Japan ever made . It is first of all a work of fiction so don't expect 100 percent historical accuracy . But for aspiring writers of historical fiction , this is a fine study specimen . Clavell has a strong talent for this type of fiction as his other historic works attest . The detail , the precision , the imagery , it is Clavell's most famous work . It is his magnum opus . It must have takne years for him to write this and even if he had written nothing else , this novel would have secured his success . In the earl 80 ' s it was made into an equally impressive film .
• 075 4  The story begins with drama . The Dutch ship in foreign waters , Erasmus , is manned by a crew fighting to stay alive . This is a perfect metaphor to foreshadow events that will later take place throughout the book . The captain of the ship , John Blackthorne , is the first English pilot to get through Magellan's pass and sail in Asian waters . After the ship is docked in the harbor in Japan it is then that the dozen men on board begin to realize that the battle on land will be much more difficult than any they have faced at sea . How does a culture handle the sudden presence of new outsiders ? Especially when they have completely different beliefs and ways of life ? This is something that Clavelle explores cleverly , dealing with the English and Dutch sea fearers as aliens that must be feared and scorned . When the crew of the Erasmus first arrives in Japan everyone is leery of them . The local samurai and citizens treat them with cold friendliness and utter gravity , and even the local Portuguese Christians look on the intruders as something to fear . This is a book fraught with political struggles and intrigue , the corruption of the religious leaders present , lush descriptions of Japan in the 16th century , and exploration of medieval Japanese cultures and the samurai way of life . Much of the story flows around Blackthorne's maturation from a swarthy , brooding , ego-driven macho man into a smooth , quiet tempered , harmonious , esteemed samurai of distinction . There are several other interesting characters that help to develop this incredible story . This is a book that should be read at least once by everyone interested in Japanese culture , war epics , action driven plots , and historical fiction / drama .
• 076 4  This novel , while considered fiction is largely based on actual events and the characters names have been slightly altered from their actual historical names . I guess for some there is not enough action to keep them interested . In my option these people missed the whole point of the story . Too often people have minimized the Samurai to just warriors and their story's must be about wars . Instead this novel focuses on the traditions and customs of the Japanese people at that time and how wars were fought behind the scenes . The motivations behind each person . I find this more entertaining and interesting .
• 077 4  There are some books I have to return to every year or two for another go round - - - LOTR , silmarillion , dune , and shogun . Its just that good .
• 078 4  The best book I've ever experienced ! ! ! note : There are some historic inconsitincies such as the name of Toranaga is actually named Tokugawa . The clash of western civilization and eastern civilization in the beginning of the 17th century is told very well in this story . It is a very long read but , by the time you finish you want more ! ! It is an epic , action , suspense , romance novel , filled with all the elements of a great read . - - - the greatest novel I've read so far ! ! ! ! ! !
• 079 4  Shogun is a story of high drama and excitement set upon the stage of feudal Japan . The protaganist is Blackthorne , an Englishman who captains a Dutch privateer around 1600 . He comes to Japan and becomes embroiled in the politics of that time , learns about bushido , falls in loves , and befriends one of the most powerful people in feudal Japan . When he comes to Japan , it is a completely alien society to him . He is unprepared for a civilization that regards money and trade with disdain , and where life can be thrown away so easily . It is a place where duty overshadows every other virtue . If you read a lot of science-fiction , you'll notice that a similar them exists in first contact stories where humans come in contact with aliens that have bizarre worldviews . In some ways , the culture of Japan as presented here is just as strange as ( or more than ) any of these extraterrestrial cultures . By the end of the book , you will comprehend the beauty and values of the culture , and characters that acted in nearly incomprehensible ways will become logical . The politics and intrigue are riveting . It is fascinating to be taken into the minds of many different characters as they vie for power - - yet you are never taken all the way in . A shadow always conceals much of the ambitions and strategies of the key characters . The plotting is unpredictable , while at the same time being entirely believable - - because the characters make it believable .
• 080 4  This book resembles a long term relationship with someone that you love . It's a wonderful book all the way through and that's a good thing because this book will take a very long time to read . You will think about this book throughout your entire day . Once you get to those final hours of reading you feel sad because you will know that the your almost done reading it and you won't want it to end . Finishing the book was like saying goodbye to a good friend . Truly unforgettable .
• 081 4  This book is an absolutely absorbing , unbelievable adventure . James Clavell brings the romantic world of historic Japan to life with his writing in a way that I've never encountered in any other author . This book is by far my favorite to read , over and over again .
• 082 4  There are two types of Clavell fans , those who think Tai-Pan is his best work and those who think Shogun is his best work . I'm one of the latter . I'm not knocking Tai-Pan at all , it's a great book as well and should be read , but nothing grabs you and takes hold like Shogun . For 1,150 pages you are held captive to one of the most sweeping , grand epics ever concieved . The characters are fully realized and fascinating . Toranaga is one of the shrewdest characters in modern literature . Blackthorn is an excellent vehicle to enter a new world in which the reader is unfamiliar , and an excellent protaganist . I dare anyone not to go online and look up anything on medieval Japan whil reading this . Or rent a Kurosawa film . Actually you don't need anything like that because the descriptive writing is so good . Like the explanation of a tea ceremony or the chapter in the Willow World This is not for people who like a quick read . Be prepared to stay awhile , but if you are like me , you will love every page of it .
• 083 4  This book has come to be known as one of the greatest fictional adventur estories of all time . It tells of a foreigner to Japen , a man known as Blackthorne whose fleet is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan . Taken in by the natives , Blackthorne becomes assimilated in Japanese society , only to learn of the power and deciet of the country . It is a tale of backstabbing and power hungry lords that scavange the land in search of anything they can get thier hands on . Blackthorne witnesess firsthand , the beauty , terror , and power of the country called Japan in an era of war . I would recomend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure tale .
• 084 4  While visiting my parents over the Christmas Holiday I picked up their paperback version of Shogun . Having lived in Japan for close to five years as a middle school student in the late ' 70 ' s and early 80 ' s I was spellbound by Clavell's ability to portray Japanese culture . Although the story takes place in the early 1600 ' s the reader , if they so choose , can relate to modern day Japanese culture . i.e . their work habits , their dedication to their jobs and those above them ( bosses and managers ) , their organization and their ability to keenly focus . One phrase from the book that sums up this Japanese attitude is it's stupid to fail . A well written book based on an actual historical events leading to the rise of the Tokugawa regime .
• 085 4  I always like to stress that about the greats . Not intellectuals , not cultural accountants . Shogun rocked me . I read the novel eight years ago . What an imagination ! Clavell was not a historian , he was a fascinating storyteller ! Think about it . This man portrayed an Englishman's entrance into alien country , and how his beliefs so violently clashed with the Japanese at the turn of the 17th century . Remember when Fujiko kills the gardener over the rotting pheasant ? Clavell has brilliantly resurrected the breath of times past . Any MORON can recite the exact past , but storytellers like Clavell allow us to inhale all their scents , understand motivations , taste regrets . I'll say it the same way I did the first time . Wow , Mr . Clavell . Thanks . Going to miss your tales . By the by , intelligence is just a another nickname for Bob . Only those willing to surrender to imagination need apply . James Clavell was a POW in Singapore during WWII . I hope you knew that . He wasn't a tourist .
• 086 4  Shogun is easily one of the greatest novels ever written . Though quite lengthy ( clocking in at well over 1,000 pages ) , when you reach the end you can't help but to yearn for more . In addition to the true-to-life characterizations and heart pounding action , Shogun is a lesson in cultural acceptance and understanding . It is all too easy to put ourselves in the shoes of Pilot Major Blackthorne and share his prejudices and ignorance , then grow with him as the book progresses . The strategic brilliance of the ancient Japanese comes across well in Omi , Yabu , Toranaga , and Ishido , yet the opacity of their personalities makes it difficult to interperet their motives . A simply amazing work in all respects .
• 087 4  If politicians like Toronaga-sama were ruling Japan during WWII we'd be talking japanese today . James Clavell paints a cleverly crafted picture of the land of the rising sun during the 16th century in minute detail right down to their ablutions and the minutiae of every day life.The story begins when an englishman named John Blackthorne , pilot of a dutch ship is marooned on the japanese islands , falls foul of a jesuit priest who considers him a heretic and eventually winds up as the virtual prisoner and later friend of the powerful and cunning warlord , Toronaga.Blackthorne has arrived at a pivotal moment when a power struggle is ensuing between Lord Toronaga and another warlord , Oshido.It is a game played within the courts and councils of power with such amazing mental agility and acumen that to be a player , raw nerves and ruthlessness are the only weapons that count.The stakes are high and the ancient samurai code of bushido also ensures that no prisoners are taken.And the prize for all this-the complete domination of the japanese islands its peoples and even the emperor himself under the supreme title of Shogun.Toronaga plays a deft hand of cat-and-mouse never betraying his thoughts even to his close family and advisers.He befriends Blackthorne and is determined to use his knowledgeable mind to his advantage.He is intrigued by the englishmans unpredictability , a startling contrast to the men around him.After Blackthorne saves his life a second time Toronaga has no hesitation in creating him samurai and ' hatamoto'with the right to have his own retainers.Such a rare and distinct honour , rarer even still for a foreigner astounds the japanese.Eventually with his gift for acquiring languages Blackthorne supercedes the jesuit father Alvito and becomes Toronaga's official interpreter.Along the way we meet an array of characters notably the lady Mariko-noh-Buntaro a highborn japanese catholic who finds herself attracted to the protestant Blackthorne and against all her training and background becomes his lover.Not only is she talented and beautiful Mariko is also samurai.Not afraid for herself or their eventual discovery she worries over Blackthorne and realises that until he acquires the unique japanese way of thinking he is powerless.I recommend this story to all political science majors , it is very detailed and gives an amazing account of everyday life.It also to me , went a long way in explaining why the japanese behave the way they do today , especially socio-economically.Not to be missed .
• 088 4  This book is over 1200 pages long , but don't let the size intimidate you . If any book makes reading an effortless exercise , it's this one . The writing is sharp , tight , and exhilirating . The action is relentless . Of course , if you're looking for precise historical accuracy , look elsewhere . Some have criticized the limitations of Clavell's Japanese . It seems obvious that the book uses only a few words for limited effect ; it's not meant to be a primer in the language . The greatest thing about this novel is its presentation of action , romance , war , and all that good stuff . It is also interesting to see Blackthorne move from hatred of the Japanese towards an appreciation of their culture . It's great when Blackthorne sees his former comrades-in-arms near the end and feels mostly disdain for them . Blackthorne seems to feel this disdain because they are not civilized and sanitary in the Japanese sense . The Europeans are definitely the protagonists at the beginning ; we can only sympathize when they are beset by the tortures of Yabu . But throughout the 1200 pages , Blackthorne learns and changes . It's a great journey to be on .
• 089 4  James Clavell masterfully recreates the genre of feudal Japan in the days of Warriors and Peasants when the outside influences of Western civilization began to seep its way into the previously untouched land of teh rising sun . Clavells ability to create character development and interplay is nearly unmatched , and his talent for creating a highly interesting , adventurous , and vivid setting entraps the reader into a time long since past but not forgotten . The plot , character development / interplay , setting description , flow , writing style , and depth make this book a masterpiece . This book has it all . . . love , romance , intrique , war , politics , religion , honor , death , loyaly , and betrayal . I highly recommend this book to anyone !
• 090 4  I finished reading Shogun a few hours ago , and now feel compelled to say a few words not so much to future readers , but to the fraternity of past readers who've also been compelled to write a few words of their own . Shogun is an awe-inspiring novel . Is it a work of literature ? No . Is it even well-written ? Not particularly . Is it a devastating and beautiful human document ? Yes . Yes . And yes . Shogun will grip your mind and soul like no other book . You will fall in love with the characters . You will fall in love with Japan . And your mind will be expanded WAY BEYOND what you thought possible . In some ways , I'm surprised I'm writing these words at all ; because I almost put the book down around page 400 due to too many clumsy descriptions . But I hung in there . And boy am I glad I did . A word of advice : you might want to jot down a few notes the first 200 pages , or so . I got confused many times about each character's family and history . But if you hang in there you'll be fine . I mentioned at the beginning I was writing this review mainly for past readers . And that's because I want you all to spread the word . Get as many friends as you can to read this book . This poor world of ours is so insular and racist . And each culture is sure it is the best one . Which is why we all need to take the time to explore other cultures and see other perspectives . Whether we agree with them or not . A little humility goes a long way . Anyhow , I'll get off my soap box now . And say a warm sayonara to all fellow Shogunites . It was a privilege reading this book .
• 091 4  Like Toranaga , Ishido , Mariko , and the other major characters , John Blackthorne was a real person . From W . Scott Morton ( 1994 , McGraw-Hill ) , Japan : Its History and Culture , pages 118 - 119 : It was by a strange accident that he [ Ieyasu , or ' Yoshi Toranaga ' ] found one of his most valuable experts , a shipbuilder , Will Adams , pilot-major of a small Dutch flotilla , who was one of the few survivors of a typhoon which severely damaged the flagship , the ' Liefde ' [ Erasmus ] . . . . Adams was from Kent , England . In his youth , he was an apprentice to a shipwright . Adams warned Ieyasu about Spain's and Portugal's desire to propagate Catholocism into Japan , and said that other nations ( England and Holland ) were interested only in trade . Now , for what became of Blackthorne after Toranaga's victory at Sekigahara . . . he acquired a large estate in Japan , and married a Japanese woman . Adams never returned to England . He died in Japan , laden with honors ( presumably from Ieyasu ) , but still longing for his homeland . There is a monument to Will Adams in Japan , near the sea . Ieyasu , possibly because of Adams ' influence , expelled the Christain missionaries a while later : Lord Kiyama ( Takayama Ukon ) left Japan in exile to Manila , where he died shortly afterward . William A . Levinson The Crisis Manager
• 092 4  I have read many books in my lifetime . I still say Shogun is the best book I have ever read . The book draws you in and won't let you go . You live inside the charachters . I tell everyone I know to dive head first into this incredible book .
• 093 4  Shogun was first published in 1975 and is a HUGE tome , well researched , detailing the situations in feudal Japan of the late 1500s . The characters involved are thinly disguised historical figures , and the main character is based on a real Englishman - Will Adams . I am a HUGE huge fan of Shogun . Those who have only seen the mini-series really need to read the book . It goes into all sorts of layers and sub-layers that aren't even touched on in the mini-series version . Your basic story is of a Dutch pilot , who becomes known as Anjin , who crash-lands in Japan with his crew . The crew is immediately locked up , but Anjin is brought out to talk with the local samurai . The Portuguese priests are very upset at the thought of English ships reaching their rich treasure-trove of trade . Soon there are political battles between the priests who get great wealth by negotiating with the Japanese , and Anjin who provides the Japanese with a fresh view of world politics . Along the way , Anjin falls in love with Mariko , who is the wife of one of the archers . The lead Shogun - Toronaga - encourages this romance as a way to keep Anjin under control . Toronaga is in his own battles for control with an arch-rival . So there are many different conflicts going on . The Japanese are fighting amongst themselves for control of the island . They need the Portuguese priests , but don't want to be taken advantage of by them . They want the knowledge that Anjin has - but don't want to risk yet another complex control situation with England . Anjin begins by seeing the Japanese as a heathen , backwards group of people . But as time goes on , he becomes one of them , appreciating the value of a soak in the bathtub , enjoying the healthy food , appreciating the music and manners and artistry of the culture . Where other top selling books are usually about sex , violence and drugs , Shogun wraps all of those things in an incredible amount of historical research . Yes , there's some sex . The book loves to highlight the geisha and openness of naked bodies that are found in Japan . There's violence - the samurai are shown as accepting death readily and chop off the head of a villager who does not show respect . People are tortured . I suppose there are no drugs in the story : ) But none of these things are put in for a tittilation factor , to bludgeon you over the head . They are all provided in context , to help show visibly the difference between Anjin's view of morality and life and death and the views of the Japanese he now lives with . The beauty of this book is in the little touches . So many books are written with little care for three dimensional characters and realistic environments . James poured incredible amounts of time and effort into travelling to locations to get the actual details right . He went to the Vatican to make sure he got the details of the church's influence correct . When you read this book , you get an incredibly gripping tale . But not only that , when you are done , you really do know a lot more about an important culture , about why they were the way they were and how people lived and died back then . I think that's an amazing achievement , to have combined historical fact with a well written story involving people you grow to care a great deal about . Highly recommended .
• 094 4  this novel is quite possibly the best novel written after the death of sir dickens . in my mind , no author will ever surpass the genius of dickens ' writing ( especially bleak house . i love that one ) , but James Clavell has certainly come close . shogun being about as long as bleak house , the detail is just amazing . great character developement , especially when written in an age where bestsellers are pointless trashy love novels written to gain a few dollars ( im exagerating here ) . not to the extent of 19th century english lit , but hey , hes not being paid by the word ( or at least i dont think he was ) , so he can take the time to develop a plot-driven book with great ( not amazing , but definitely worthy of the adjective great ) characters . this is definitely one of those page-turners that you just can't put down , but it is deeper than that . james has a way of keeping you interested , yet a way of making the plot memorable , much like dickens except not depending on a set of circumstances ( imo dickens ' biggest downfall , but is easily overlooked ) . come to think of it , i don't think there were any EXTREMELY boring parts in this novel . some will argue that nothing happens in the beginning , which is true , but it isn't extremely boring because you are learning about japanese culture ( which i already knew quite a bit about ) , which gives a touch of interestingness ( is that a word ? ) that keeps you hooked . right before blackthorne gets his ship back is probably the most boring part for me because all it talks about is his secret relationship , but i got through it quickyl and with little encumbrance . review in a nutshell : amazing book with good characters and plot . worthy of a read by ANYONE of any age , occupation , interests , etc . READ IT NOW ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! you wont regret it . . .
• 095 4  I first read this book in the summer of 1975 , and it was the first Clavell book I had ever touched . I have bought several others on the strength of my appreciation for Shogun alone , though they have almost all earned similar kudos . The story is incredibly detailed ; the threads and points of view disparate but handled with fantastic finesse and attention to interlocking them into each other ; and the ending a surprise ( to me at least ) , but with a feeling of massive inexorability about it that provides fulfillment and complete closure . If you're looking for good , absorbing , exciting , and entertaining literature with which you can settle down for several hours , and are willing to have your eyes opened by one of the best introductions I've ever encountered to a truly non-Western culture , please give this book a try .
• 096 4  This was the first Clavel novel that I ever read . Once I started reading it , I couldn't stop . I often measure the quality of a book by the amount of sleep I lose over it . This book is so gripping that by the time I reached the final chapters , I stayed up ALL NIGHT to finish it . It's just that good . Clavel must have performed a mind-boggling amount of research to produce this work . It is full of details about life in 16th cenutry Japan . Culture , politics , sex , class distinctions , race relations , and more are all covered . As far as historical novels are concerned , this is probably the pinnacle of the genre . If you enjoy historical novels , are a history buff , enjoy Japanese culture , or just want to read a great book , you can't go wrong with this one . It is truly great and you will be better off for having read it .
• 098 4  This review is from : Shogun ( Mass Market Paperback ) I read this book in 1975 and thoroughly enjoyed it . all these many years later , I can recall vividly episodes in the novel and even almost word-for-word descriptions of some scenes . This past summer I bought this same paperback to replace my older banged-up copy . And then I just bought this book as a gift . BEWARE ! : This is a down-sized version of the book I had just purchased this summer . The print is unbelievaby small . It is unconsconiable that a publisher put a book with so small a print on the market . My advise is to get a larger format book . Your eyes will appreciate it and so will you . This a a story not to be missed .
• 099 4  I read this book in 1975 and thoroughly enjoyed it . all these many years later , I can recall vividly episodes in the novel and even almost word-for-word descriptions of some scenes . This past summer I bought this same paperback to replace my older banged-up copy . And then I just bought this book as a gift . BEWARE ! : This is a down-sized version of the book I had just purchased this summer . The print is unbelievaby small . It is unconsconiable that a publisher put a book with so small a print on the market . My advise is to get a larger format book . Your eyes will appreciate it and so will you . This a a story not to be missed .
• 100 4  Welcome to Japan , its a masterpiece of a story that takes you into the heart , the pride and culture of Old Japan , in a highly intriguing storyline , flanked by an exceedling engaging group of characters . The only weakness to this story , which is not a weakness , is the author , James Clavell isn't Japanese . Which fortunately doesn't take anything from the classic nature of this literary masterpiece , but it makes you wonder how an outsider would be able to craft one of the best works of the Old Japanese Empire in this present time . A western sailor enters ancient japan in a time of war , and is used as pawn to play the premature war of the minds of leader , seeking to rule an empire . It slow to build , but after the first 100 pages , you would thank the heavens for letting you read it .
• 101 4  This book was amazing ! ! ! I loved it all the way through , I would highly recommend it .
• 102 4  I find it very difficult to find books that I really enjoy . One of the genres I like is the well-researched historical novel about 1700 and before - the earlier the better . Shogun starts in 1600 . I enjoyed the picture of sailing at that time and the picture of Japan at that time . Mention of the Spanish Armada , Sir Francis Drake , the Jesuits , ninjas , the development of geishas from the courtesans there , the silk trade , plus many other things allowed me to get some feeling of what it was like living at that time and place . Of course the characters of Blackthorne , Mariko , and Toranaga were very well drawn , so that now that I have finished the book I find that I miss them . Some events in the book stretched the imagination somewhat , but they did not detract greatly from my enjoyment . I found the book easy to read , enjoyable , and educational - my 3 criteria for a good book .
• 103 4  Every two or three years , I have brought out Shogun and reread it which now amounts to about twelve times . Every time , the book takes on new dimensions and tones . The story of John Blackthorne , a Dutch seafarer who makes it across the Pacific to the Japans , is an enthralling and embracing story . One of the most engrossing elements of the story is Blackthorne's struggle with Japan's language and culture . As the embodiment of the stranger in a strange land , we too are taken on this great journey set in Japan's feudal kingdom . The characters are extraordinarily well-drawn . The plotting is intricate . The description of the society is detailed and insightful . Even if you read it once , you will go on a priceless journey .
• 104 4  I love this book . I'm so mad that I have already read it , because I want to experience it again for the first time ! While I am not Japanese , I have heard it said from a number of Japanese sources that Clavell's writing allows you to nearly step inside the Japanese psyche that helped to form the society of today . While it is a fictional account , the book is loosely based upon the factual journey of William Miura Anjin Adams . The character Lord Torinaga is loosely based on Ieyasu Tokugawa . Overall it is a tremendous read - I devoured the 1000 + pages of the book in under a week . A fantastic story of adventure , intrigue , power , love , loss and hope . If you like this book , you can go on to the other books in Clavell's Asian Epic . In chronological order , it is : Shogun Tai-Pan Gai-Jin King Rat Noble House I have read Tai-Pan and Gai-Jin , with the former being as good as Shogun , and the latter not nearly as much . I have not read the books that follow - King Rat and Noble House , though I do look forward to doing so .
• 105 4  Quite literally life changing . I was thinking about the implications of this book on my life for weeks after finishing it .
• 106 4  This is the novel that introduced the Samurai's bushido , daimyos rivalries and the bakufu Shogunate to the average westerner . Through the eyes of a shipwrecked navigator , Blackthorn , a previously hermetically closed world is revealed . From battle ethics and sepuku to hygiene and tea ceremonies , the interwoven narrative lines flow harmonically , like carps in a Zen rock garden pool . Beautiful , economical and seamless , Clavell's insights on human nature have produced another Masterpiece . Like most of James Clavell's novels , SHOGUN is a thinly veiled historical story . There was a Blackthorn ( English pilot William Adams ) , as well as a Torenaga ( Shogun Tokugawa whose dynasty ruled Japan for over 200 years ) . However , like most James Clavell's novels , the story comes alive in some many ways it is pure enjoyment ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED ! PS : There is a 1980 TV mini series based on this book - of comparable merit . Casting Toshiro Mifune and Richard Chamberlain was just the tip of the iceberg . Truly beautiful production . Nevertheless , my advice is to first read the book and only THEN watch the TV version .
• 107 4  The book is a page turner . You cannot stop until you reach the last page and I like the paperback as I could read during my long commute .
• 108 4  So much has already been said about this novel , so I won't go into detail except to add that I was impressed by the display of female power in the medieval Japanese court , whether real or imagined by the author . Female Shogunate warriors , cunning sexual influence and unexpected bravery really helped to shape the novel , especially towards the end . This is a novel with alot of depth , detail , and tons of characters to keep track of , but it's thoroughly impressive and a worthwhile read .
• 109 4  If you're reading this you're probably wondering if you want to read James Clavell at all because the novels are so big , and you have to invest time . If this is you , my suggestion is begin with SHOGUN the made-for-TV miniseries with Richard Chamberlain . It's largely faithful to the book - in tone as well as story - and if you like it , try the books . SHOGUN is big , but a fast read , exciting , rich with the history of feudal Japan , and packed with adventure and intrigue . If you like SHOGUN , I think you'll enjoy TAI-PAN and GAI-JIN . Read them in that order because many Tai-Pan characters appear directly or are referred to in GAI-JIN . Tai-Pan tells the story of the Struen trading dynasty and founding of Hong Kong . The action and intrigue give a really interesting perspective on the clash between early Asian and British cultures . GAI-JIN jumps forward in time , and from China back to Japan , as Dirk Struen's grandson Malcolm struggles to keep his family dynasty strong in the middle of great personal and political crisis and intrigue . It's also exciting , and paints a great historical portrait of English / American-Japanese dynamics the way Tai-Pan does for English-Chinese culture clashes . AUDIO VERSIONS - Tai-Pan and Gai-Jin are both available unabridged on audio , narrated by the British-accented John Lee . Lee does an excellent job with both .
• 110 4  Fabulous book ! The Clavell Trilogy is a true eye opener for those who are unfamiliar with Japanese culture and history . Clavell takes the reader to every possible thought of a people that has remained an enigma to most Westerners . Attitudes towards crime , punishment , daily life , sex are so different from what Europeans and Americans of European descent are used to , that it is at times shocking and frightening . At other times it is so delightful that one wishes it were in all cultures . For readers interested in getting more under the skin of the Japanese thinking the book Reading the Japanese Mind ( see my review ) might be a good follow-up or companion .
• 111 4  I first read this book when I was in college . I'd always been interested in Asian culture & history , and I picked it up in a book store on a whim . It's well over a thousand pages in length , but once you get past the beginning , it's hard to put down . Over the years I've recommended it to many friends and almost all of them have enjoyed it . The novel can best be classified as historical fiction . In the story , European sailors are first starting to discover Japan . Throughout the story you get to know an English sailor who gradually becomes accepted in Japanese society . The story is filled with romance and action , while at the same time providing an overview of the Japanese samurai culture . If you've ever had an interest in Japanese culture , I strongly recommend this book . While the historical elements are fictional , the time period is accurately described and you can get an interesting feel for the period .
• 112 4  This epic tale of courage , war , betrayal , love , and beauty takes place in Japan during the beginning of its interaction with the European nations . Although it is historic fiction , the detail and thoroughness of the story make it seem as if it really happened . The basic story is of how a prejudiced English explorer sails to Japan . There , he finds a whole new world . He is taught Japanese life , language , and culture , and is used as a link to the outside world by the most powerful daimyo in Japan . He becomes a pawn in a war for the Shogunate , and is used , due to the fact that he is hated by all of the Jesuits that control the trade on the island , to turn the tide of the war . In this , he finds the love of his life , who happens to be married , and begins a passionate affair with her . Although it is a long read , it is worth every bit of the time spent on it .
• 113 4  Shogun , written by James Clavell is a great Japanese historical fiction . The book is filled with much information about how the past might have been . How Japan was hostile to foreigners , any kind of foreigner , since they wished to remain isolated from the world , how they thought mostly about honor , loyalty and death , just really how samurai thought back then . I liked the book because I love anime and manga . And since the book was based on Japanese culture , I decided to read it . The theme was quite mature , yet I ignored the inappropriate parts . The book went beyong my expectations and I was quite happy with the ending . How the war was solved and how I predicted it should have been .
• 114 4  Shogun is a masterpiece . the book draws its readers into another era , dark and mysterious , Clavell succeeds in suspending , no annihilating resistance to entering the exotic and fascinating world outlined in this novel . Reading this book is like falling in love . At times hilarious or brutal , always exhilarating and occasionally deeply moving . The world of medieval Japan which he brings to life is exquisitely detailed in all its aspects , from the spiritual ( eg the cha ceremony ) to the esoteric ( the ninja ) to the martial , political and romantic . The cast of dozens in this novel all come across with disarming realism and engage the reader very strongly , so that even a western reader has no difficulty remembering who is who despite their strange sounding names . Essentially a story about one man's struggle for survival and love in a hostile alien world , Shogun delivers , in every department . I have read this book several times . You will not be able to put it down .
• 115 4  Shógun was to me the dominating factor in my growing interest in Japan and the Orient . The superb story telling : the love-intrigues , the political arguments , the fearsome battlescenes , and the ever existing feeling of being present in the storyline makes Shógun an excellent piece of reading . Clavell succeeds to fascinate me time on time again . Tai-Pan ( which i recommend as well ) also gives the reader an urge to discover further , the depth of the societies he introduces . Though i was very disappointed in Shóguns ending regarding the fate of Mariko-san , I can only encourage all who have not read it to read it right away . BUT : remember not to swallow it in one bite ; enjoy it's length and reread some passages to furthen the curiosity of what is next .
• 116 4  SHOGUN and AZTEC are the best historical epics ever , in my opinion . SHOGUN is fast moving , takes place in a society we don't know much about , has engaging heros and villains , is stunningly detailed and well-researched , and is quite violent . These days , historical epics also spend a lot of time on sex , and SHOGUN comes from a more old-fashioned time , so it is fairly tame in that respect , but for violence , you'll be hard pressed to find more . The book is insanely long , and yet as it begins to reach the end , and you realise it's almost over , you'll be sad . You want to keep living with these great characters . Sorry I'm not summarizing the plot again . . . that's been done quite well here several times . I just want to chime in with my heartiest recommendations . It is flat out one of the most entertaining reads you'll ever find . Not great literature , but an absolute classic of its genre .
• 117 4  This book , without question , is my favorite book of all time . It took quite a lot of convincing from my friends to pick up this 1000 + pager , but once I started the prologue , I couldn't put it down . It is the kind of book that makes you wish you could read faster so you can find out what happens next , yet also the kind of book you never want to end . If you're interested in reading a beautifully crafted epic of romance , political intrigue , warcraft . . . indeed , a study of the human spirit in a brilliantly articulate style . . . then read this book ! And though you'll have to sacrifice a week or so of your life to get through the seemingly endless pages , it's well worth it !
• 118 4  This is quite possibly the best book I've ever read . You follow Blackthorne into Japan where you not only learn about Japanese culture and tradition , but you are witness to adventure , romance , war strategy , honor , and loyalty . I read The Godfather right before I read Shogun , and I found that there are many similarities as far as power , control , fear are concerned . One might think of the hierarchy in Japan as a mafia of sorts , in that they both have a Godfather or a Shogun that people fear and respect . Many interesting parrallels between the books . Shogun is far better though . The first 300 pages may be a little difficult for some people to read because Clavell is just setting up the characters and the setting , but once you get past that , you will not want to put the book down .
• 119 4  When I first picked this thing up ( which was recommended by a friend ) I first thought Oh , good . This should keep me busy for quite sometime . . . WRONG ! ! I read it at a rate of about 100 - 150 pages a day ( plus , I was reading another novel for school at the same time ) . Excellent . Lots of action , love , and even ninjas ! Clavell is an incredible narrorator . So what if there were a few discrepencies ? It is all based on the adventures of real-life Brittish pilot William Adams ( John Blackthorne ) . One of the only love stories that has ever choked me up ( I almost cried ) . It will change your whole idea of romance , and you'll start to think of John aka Anjinsan and Mariko when you hear your fav . love song . I also loved how it showed the contrast between cultures , and teaches us to respect everyone . Check it out , it's well worth the $ [ money ] ! Now on to Taipan , Noblehouse , Gaijin , King Rat . . . I just found a new favorite author !
• 121 4  Clavell's sensitivity to Japan's culture and ancient history makes this book a very good instrument for understanding the country in present days . Much of what is described in the book appears in the present as a heritage , reconstructed by the social imagination in different important ways , and it makes it possible to better appreciate the drastic changes opperated in modern Japan . Plus , the plot is great fun and Clavell gives us a multicultral perspective , with emphasis on japanese perspective , on 16th century Japan and on the events he created . Being a foreigner in the country , it was great reading this book .
• 122 4  James Clavell's Shogun ranks up there as one the greatest stories ever told . It tells the story of an English Pilot ( John Blackthorne i.e . Anginsan ) who makes it to the Japans and wins favor with a powerful Japanese daiymo ( Toranaga ) . It also tells the story of a forbidden love as Blackthorne falls for his beautiful married interpretor Mariko . A very compelling and powerful story that takes you to a different time and place . This a a story for the ages ! ! ! ! ! !
• 123 4  A very next day after Shogun suddenly came to my mind ( I realised I never finished it before ) , the book was looking at me from the shelves in the bookshop.As most of 131 rewievers before me noticed , this exceptional book is so masterfuly written that at the end of the last page ( 1210 in my edition ) I was deeply saddened that there is no sequel.I dont agree with readers who are taking this book too seriously and criticise details about life in medieval Japan : if you cannot let yourself go and simply enjoy great novel , then books are not for you.Not just that I spend sleepless night while reading this book , it was entertaining and subtly educational , as I didnt know much about life in Japan before , and could easy imagine picture.And Clawell , with his background , knows about Japan much , much more than ordinary reader .
• 124 4  Perhaps the greatest historical fiction book ever . My words can not adequately describe the world you will be emmersed in when reading this book . There is intrigue , love , jealousy and mystery in this medieval Japanese epic . The plot is never dull and constantly moving . You will begin to feel that you are living the story rather than reading it . When you pick this book up , you will not be able to put it down .
• 125 4  With so many reviews I cannot add anything new . This book holds you enthralled from start to finish . Clavell's descriptions of 16th century Japanese life , politics and the effects of an English ' intruder ' into this environment is stuff that dreams are made of . I do not read many books more than once but this book can be read numerous times and never pales with each read .
• 126 4  This was one ( if not the ) best book I have ever read . Clavell weaves this masterpiece of adventure , lust , war , and history into a novel that keeps the reader in a state of utter suspence for all 1152 pages . On every page of the work , the story thickens and a new twist in the plot is revealed .
• 127 4  What a beautifully complex novel James Clavell has woven . His writing style is superb . The characters are unique . The story is awesome . Politics , sex , romance , drama and action are all crammed into this novel . It is tragic to learn Clavell has died .
• 128 4  It's hard but I'm going to make this as short and as sweet as possible . Shogun grips you like the jaws of life and absolutley refuses to let you down . If you read this outstanding novel , by the time your finished your going to look back and wish you had about 100 more chapters left . You just won't want the story to end , ever . . .
• 129 4  Shogun is the best history of 17th Century Japan you will ever read . Yes , a history of Feudal Japan . Oh , yes its a novel . Yes it is filled with action , romance , sex , politics , and cultural diffusion . But other than changing the names , the book is really a history of how the Tokugawa Shogunate was established . The book is a history of Will Adams , Tokugawa Ieyasu , with background and references to Nobunaga and Hideyoshi . But again , though it is really a history Shogun is much more . This is by far the best book I have ever read . As long as the book is , you don't want it to end . Honestly , I never liked Clavell's other books , Gai-Jin , Taipan , etc . but Shogun is the best . Shogun is one of those books you will always remember .
• 130 4  I say it is his second best because I think his earlier novel , Tai-Pan , is slightly better , but not by much . That aside , Shogun is a brilliant tale filled with plenty of political intrigue in 16th century Japan . It is a historical novel which works . A rare commodity indeed in this day . I am particularly impressed by how unpredictable the plot is yet plausible . The amount of research which Clavell had to undertake to produce this novel must have been incredible . Finally , the ending of the novel is filled with nail biting suspense that satisfies the reader with an interesting twist . Read it . It may look boring , but you would be mistaken to overlook this great work . This and Tai-Pan are the mighty bestsellers of the late sixties and mid-seventies that I feel are unrivaled to this day .
• 131 4  This is the best novel of fiction I have ever read . I read a LOT . The people of Japan come to life , and the characters are totally unique . Blackthorne learns his role well , and the women . . . ah it makes you want to go to 16th century Japan to live . If you're a man , that is . I just bought this book on a whim , and now have bought all of Clavell's books . Buy this book . You will find the 1210 pages are much too short .
• 132 4  Shogun is one of the best Novels of all time . What a book ! A fictional history of Tokugawa Ieyasu and the unification of Japan under his families Shogunate . The references to Hideyoshi , Nobunaga , and other aspects of Japanese history add to the fun . Like Lonesome Dove , despite the size of the book , you will not want it to end . I suggest reading a little Japanese history first and then read the novel . Anyone interested in Japan or just a good book should read it .
• 133 4  I thoroughly enjoyed this book . Every time I pick it up it takes me to the place I would most like to be , Japan circa 1600 . Clavell is one of those gifted writers that pulls you into the story . I felt as if I were with the Pilot , Blackthorne as he learned to live in a totally alien culture . One of the scenes I remember the most is , oddly , how dirty his homeland seemed after living with the Japanese . This book makes you respect the samurai and love the people of Japan . A truly wonderous read , I would reccommend this to anyone who loves Japan .
• 134 4  I read this book over 20 years ago , and it still remains the most engaging novel I have ever read . Most folks won't pick up a novel this lengthy ; I couldn't put it down , and actually did very little over the course of several days other than read it . The mini-series on television was good , but it paled in comparison to the book .
• 135 4  The author did his homework on this one . Shogun offers a great culutral and social view of old japan .
• 136 4  James Clavell proves his writing powress with this excuisite masterpeice . This is positively the best book I've ever read , and the first book to ever make me cry . It is a stunning blend of political intruige , heartbreaking romance , honor , and Japaneese culture . Though it is a rather long and difficult read , I highly , highly reccomend it to anyone interested in feaudal Japan , or anyone looking for a one of a kind read .
• 137 4  Shogun is an absolute masterpiece . I found that I could not put this book down , and i've read it again several times since then to pick up more of the details . The way Clavell was able to get into delve into Japanese culture so completely is amazing . It is a great read .
• 138 4  James Clavell is a master of literature . The book is phenomenal . I've noticed that other readers mentioned ethnic slurs portrayed in the book . Maybe its not realized , but medieval Japansese culture probably wasn't politically correct .
• 139 4  Good ? This book is not good . This book , this author , are both tremendously , a * * - kickingly wonderful . I'm a fast reader . I'll read a two - to three hundred book in an afternoon , and this book took me the whole weekend . A new , and welcome , experience for me . The plot contained well thought , cunningly crafted suprises that kept me reading until the very last page , wondering what happened , if Blackthorne ever got home at all . I've been told this is his very best book . I'd believe it ; no mortal could create two such works . Ever .
• 140 4  I throughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading Shogun . The Japanese culture is portrayed in a way that the most ignorant reader may feel connected to the characters and and be drawn into the book . Shogun is one of the best historical novels I have read . The most distinguishing aspect of the book are the detailed descriptions of each and every character . I would recomend this book to anyone who likes to get a full circle story . Lastly , Shogun is not for the tender-hearted .
• 142 4  This book started off at a slow pace in the prologue , but went from 1 mph to 700 in one turn of the page . The plot has many different sub-plots , and everything is explained with excrutiating detail . As the plot winds on , people are added in a flash , thern taken away , but you still , somehow know everything about every character in the book by the end , the information cluttered in the book , but expandable in your mind . This book show the characteristic qualities of feudal Japan , and paints a rather good picture into your mind .
• 143 4  I just finished Shogun about an hour ago . I have a new favorite book of all time . After having read the reviews here , I have little to add . This book has taught me so many valuable lessons , and I know it will be a part of my life forever . With so many great books out there , it is difficult for me to re-read even my favorite novels - - life is so short , neh ? And only a dream within a dream . I feel certain I will re-read Shogun many times , and I will also give copies to all of the true readers in my life who have yet to experience what can only be described as a life-changing novel . I truly wish that everyone can have a reading experience as great as my experience has been with Shogun . Thank you Mr . Clavell for Shogun . Arigato gozaimashita Clavell-sama .
• 144 4  I have read this book over 20 times ! ! I never get enough of it . It covers the whole spectrum of events . Love , Hate , Bigotry , Suspence , Sex , Adventure , Action , Mystery . . . you name it ! ! Once I start reading it , I can't put it down . It made me appreciate my three years in Japan even more . I wish Clavell was still around so he could write a continuing sequel .
• 146 4  When looked upon for its entertainment value , Shogun is an excellent novel . However , Shogun's storyline could never have taken place in the book's time period . Shogun is an attempt to merge an American love story with a Japanese setting . I'm not taking anything away from Clavell ; I feel that he writes very well , but if you're searching for a book that's more historically accurate , try looking at Musashi and Taiko , both written by Eiji Yoshikawa
• 147 4  Set at the end of the feudal period ( c .1600 ) , this novel is ( very ) loosely based on real events . Mr . Clavell's characterizations were true-to-life . The premise of the story is familiar to many through the TV mini-series . An English pilot guides a Dutch privateer to Japan in flight from the Spanish . Due to a variety of political pressures , religious and financial factors and mostly to his personal magnetism , courage , skill and luck the pilot ( John Blackthorn ) becomes a pawn and a personage . His patron , Toranaga , is Clavell's avatar of Ieyasu . Must read
• 149 4  Shogun deals with John Blackthorne , and his crew who ends up shipwrecked in Japan . What seemed like a primitive culture , turned out to be an advanced and scheming one . This book deals with corruption , love , and power to the fullest degree . Yet educates you in Japanese history so nicely , that you will find a new respect . Heck , you'll even learn a few Japanese words .
• 151 4  It really happened : only the names have been changed . . . Yoshi Toranaga was Tokugawa Ieyasu , the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate . There really was a Battle of Sekigahara , although Ishido ( Ishida Mitsunari ) was beheaded , not buried while passers-by sawed at his neck . . . Toda Buntaro ( Lord Hosokawa ) had a Christian wife , Gracia ( who appears in the story as Mariko ) . The Taiko was Toyotomi Hideyoshi , and he really did order an invasion of Korea . The dictator Goroda was Oda Nobunaga , and he was a nasty S.O.B . , even by daimyo standards . The Crisis Manager
• 153 4  Don't pick up this book unless you have time to read it all the way through , because I promise you , you will not be able to put it down . By the time you have read 100 or so pages you are in 16th century Japan . Prepare for late nights and meals untasted , and it will be very hard to tear yourself away from it to go to work or school . This title is high adventure with wonderful characters and an almost anthropological discussion of upper class Japanese and Samurai behavior of the time period . The experts say there are historical inaccuracies , and since I was a history major , normally these would prevent me from singing the praises of a work of historical fiction . Not in this case though , read it . You'll love it . And if you want a more factual interpretation of the carrer of Blackthorne , read _ Samurai William : the Englishman who opened Japan _ by Giles Milton . P.S . You may remember the mini-series made from the book . As is usual in these cases , the film does not do justice to the book .
• 154 4  This is the greatest book I have ever read ! It may be long but it goes so fast . I cant wait to get on to the other books in the Asian Saga . Get off your butt , turn off the computer and all other electronic things , buy this amazing book and be prepared to lose a whole lot of sleep over this amazing book by an amazing author .
• 155 4  This is a long novel . You will have to invest a lot of your time to read it , and sometimes it's not an easy read . If you are a Westerner you will be immersed in a different world where everything you are used to and consider normal it's challenged . It takes a while to get into the book , it's slow at the beginning , but after 300 pages you will continue coming back for more . As I said , it takes effort to go thru it but at the end you will be sorry it is over and the story and characters will be with you for a long time . If you have the patience this has the potential of being one of the most satisfying reading experiences of your life .


• 141 4  This is definitely one of the best novels written , and I have read it 3 or 4 times . But PLEASE do not think that you have learned about Japan and the Japanese by reading this book ! Although the author obviously has done his homework researching history and culture of Japan , and although the historical facts and descriptions of certain cultural aspects are correct , I do not think that his understanding of the Japanese Soul goes very deep . This is most definitely written by a GAIJIN ( alien ) and none of my Japanese friends has ever read it , most of them never even heard about it ! Also , James Clavell should not have ventured into the Japanese language so much , because there are so many mistakes that sometimes it hurt me ! The image he gives us about Japan and the Japanese is the image that most Americans and Europeans ( who don't know any better ) have and want to have of them ( Geisha and Harakiri - which by the way should be Seppuku ) . ! ! Why I still give it 4 starts ? ? - Because I still loved to read it , it is still a wonderful story , because I can only recommend it to everyone , and because I will probably read it another couple of times .
• 067 4  This is one of my favorite books ( the same with movie based on the book ) . It has everything - action , adventure , interesting characters and medieval Japan in the background . The only flaw I find is that it doesn't describe how it REALLY was in the Japan in that time . Unfortunately the author created his own version of the reality , which is very close to the real thing , with some features changed and simplified to make it more readable for European and American readers . Still , it's worth reading .
• 097 4  I get really annoyed when people bash historical fiction as being  inaccurate  . That , people , is why it is called FICTION ! Of COURSE there was no real Toranaga , or John Blackthorne , and no , Japan did not get unified when Mariko opened up all of Japan by saving some hostages . Surprised ? People with half a brain will understand that this is a novel , a fiction , a story . They will also know that James Clavell spent 10 YEARS researching Shogun . He lived in Japan , immersed himself in the culture and history , and understood and accurately depicted life in feudal Japan in a thoroughly convincing narrative . So when some freshman with ½ a semester of history behind his belt comes along talking about how  wrong  the portrayal was , I cringe ; because that is to ignore the absolutely wonderful , creative , well-written and exquisitely crafted STORY that uses the historical backdrop . This is a fantastic love story ; a fantastic war story ; a fantastic story of intrigue and plans and couterplans , of betrayal and revenge and spirituality . It is , simply , a fantastic story . It is NOT a fantastic history book . Wise people will understand and appreciate the difference , and to them I say : Read this book - you will not be disappointed .
• 145 4  This has to be one of the greatest books i have ever read . Unfortunatly it is so good that I have to rush through the end because I started it during Christmas break and now that i am back at university I have no time to both study and read this book . This book takes precedent so i better finish it soon before i fall to far behind in school . I agree full heartedly with all the above reviews except for the one claiming that this book is racist . Although their are a lot of racial slurs in this book , these are things that would have been said by the characters in this era . To not include such things for political correctness would have been irresponsible of Mr . Clavell in his depiction of life in that era . To end on a good note , READ THIS BOOK . It is well worth your time even if you end up failing in school 8 ) .