Shogun

By James Clavell,

Book cover of Shogun

Book description

Alternate Cover for 0440178002A bold English adventurer. An invincible Japanese warlord. A beautiful woman torn between two ways of life. All brought together in an extraordinary saga aflame with passion, conflict, ambition, and the struggle for power.Here is the world-famous novel of Japan that is the earliest book in James…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Shogun as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

When it comes to historical fiction, especially one set in Asia, James Clavell is the guy to beat (or at least match).

The story of Shogun unfolds in 17th-century, feudal Japan. An undisputedly exotic setting. A British ship is wrecked on its shores, and its stranded navigator must find his way through Japan's complex cultural and political dynamics. Meanwhile there are other Europeans seeking religious influence and commercial advantage.

Perhaps best of all, the characters are monumental and include one of the strongest and most courageous women in literature since Joan of Arc.

I have read everything James Clavell has written.

This book is a story about a British pilot landing in Japan with the intention of breaking up the Portuguese monopoly on trade. He becomes quickly entangled in the country's internal politics and becomes immersed in Japanese culture.

A new film version of the saga is currently on Apple TV and is exceptional. I highly recommend both the book and the mini-series.

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