About this title: A saga of Japan in the 1570s featuring a love triangle composed of the English adventurer John Blackthorne, a Japanese warlord, and a woman caught between two cultures.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. 0440178002 Good condition paperback book, some creases to spine, some edge/corner rubs, may have corner crease, small edge tear or spine slant, a good book for reading. Shop & Save With US. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Dell Publishing Company
Date Published: 1980
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Initial on first pg, solid completely tanned book with clean pgs, book shows shelf, edge & corner wear with creasing on spine, covers are tanned & shows scuffing. Mass market (rack) paperback. Glued binding. 1210 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 1976-06-01
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Good. Text in good condition. Cover has some impression marks. Cover is worn around the edges. Binding is a worn from use. Name on inside of front cover. Pages are tanning slightly around the edges. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 1976
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Acceptable. Overall below average used book. May have highlighting, underlining, notes, price sticker on cover, or be an ex-library book. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 1976
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Acceptable. MAY HAVE COVER WEAR, SPINE CREASES, HIGHLIGHTING, UNDERLINING & PAGES YELLOWED FROM AGE. FASTER SERVICE FROM US! ! ! read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 1976
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Acceptable. Back/ Front cover is folded. Back/Front cover has minor tearing or ripping. Well used. Still readable but not for the collector. All orders processed within 2 business days. Ships from Foxboro MA. read more
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Dell
Date Published: 1976-06-01
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: Good. Publisher used different paper types when printed, some pages white some light fade. mild cover creases. white cover art. red green black lettering. ISBN 0440178002. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Toronto, ON, Canada: Dell Distributing, 1976
ISBN-13:9780440178002ISBN:0440178002
Description: 0440178002 ISBN: 0440178002 This is a 34th printing. This shows considerable wear. The cover has been mended. The first page (inside cover) is gone. The spine is badly sunned. The rest of the binding is quite good. read more
"If you have time to read a hefty brick of a book, this is a great one to get lost in. I was fascinated by the clash-of-cultures story which takes in 1500's Japan and involves a shipwrecked English sailor, scheming Jesuit priests, and Japanese warlords vying for power. I didn't know much about the history of Japan during this time period, and enjoyed being educated about the historical politics and culture of the country. It's also just a great read. I gave up trying to make predictions, because the plot kept surprising me. The book is over 1000 pages, but I finished it in under a week, because it kept me so enthralled. (Of course, I'm also on summer vacation, so I've had the luxury of plenty of reading time!)"
"This is one of my all time favorite books. One of those that I pull out once a year to re-read; that I buy a new copy of once very 6 months because I've foisted my copy off on some hapless soul to make them read.
This is fantastic storytelling from several points of view, the next plot twist just tantalizingly out of reach. And even once you've read the book once and know how everything fits together; the intertwining fates of this fantastic cast of characters is so satisfying that it thrills all over again each time you pick up this book."
"An intriguing story about an English ship captain who is stranded on the coast of Japan in the 1600's. Though the story is fictional, the premise of the book--a longstanding war in Japan for the shogunship (highest warlord and most powerful political player)--is based on actual historical accounts.
This book gives and interesting perspective on Japanese culture and human perspectives. It is the beginning on of a series based in Asia which follows a set of Euopean and Asian characters who are connected through a variety of family and buisness assosiations. This was the first book series I read and started a longstanding love of historical fiction. I have not read these books in many years and I look forward to reading them again now that my literary experience is wider."
"Damn, but this was good. Incredibly long--it was unputdownable and still took two months to read--but at no point did I find it boring or tedious. Even at 1,152 pages (this might be the longest book I've ever read), there was very little I found unnecessary. With my ADD, I'm usually all, "--okay, skip to the end."
Thought the attention to detail was marvellous. I especially liked how the author handled Blackthorne's subtle transformations from uncouth barbarian to samurai nobleman, and his handling of the language barrier was particularly adept (the character's dialogue changed as he picked up vocabulary, sometimes within a single conversation). All of the skipping between POV characters was unnerving at first, but I came to appreciate knowing what every one of the scheming bastards was thinking. (All the same, I'm glad I saw the '80's miniseries last year, because me and intricate plots don't always get along.)
My fiance is currently working his way through Clavell's entire Asian Saga; I don't know if I'll go that far, but definitely glad he had me read this one."
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