Shogun [Import] [Paperback]

James Clavell (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 1136 pages
• Publisher: HODDER & STOUGHTON; New Ed edition (June 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0340839945
• ISBN-13: 978-0340839942
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,520,627 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Clavell, who died in 1994, was a screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Although he wrote the screenplays for a number of acclaimed films, including The Fly (1958), The Great Escape (1963), and To Sir With Love (1967), he is best known for his epic novels in his Asian Saga.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Monumental saga - ideal travel reading for long journeys, July 25, 2011

By 

Smita Rao (NY, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shogun: A Novel of Japan (Audible Audio Edition)

Three and a half stars for this monumental saga, based on William Adams' journey to Japan. The plot is detailed and the portrayal of Samurai and Jesuit social dynamics is extremely illuminating. Human nature, motives and culture are examined from multiple perspectives, and this enriches the story as a whole. The random nature of greed and power, and their potential to alter the course of history is a point well made. Clavell is unforgiving in his depiction of the human condition, and should be lauded for not taking sides. In Blackthorne, Clavell has a strong and likeable protagonist. I wanted to cheer for Blackthorne's tenacity and inner compass often through the novel. Clavell uses a number of literary devices well - the juxtaposition of Blackthorne as Samurai and his old shipmates who choose to live in the eta village for example, is thought-provoking. One of the central themes of the novel is its exploration of whether one's fate and social status is determined by birth or by the choices made throughout our lives. As much as I enjoyed the novel, I could not help wondering if it wouldn't have benefited from generous editing.

The narration is particularly good - I really enjoyed the English and Portuguese accents. I also appreciated how the narrator changed intonation when switching to Japanese. In particular, the tones and cadences used for men and women in Japanese are different. Great attention to detail, really enhanced the whole listening experience!

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SHOGUN, June 17, 2010

By 

R. Morse "Pink Porch Books" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shogun (Two volumes) (Hardcover)

The person who received this gift was astounded by the quality of this item and the timeliness of its receipt. We would definitely do business with this seller again.