What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, AD 1000-1700 [Hardcover]

Time-Life Books (Compiler), Denise Dersin (Editor)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Time Life Books; 1st edition (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0783554621
• ISBN-13: 978-0783554624
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,102,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very much a 'coffee table' book..., October 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, AD 1000-1700 (Hardcover)

Stephen Turnbull has suggested this book reproduces the Heiji Monogatari and Mongol Invasions scrolls in full - or at the very least large portions of each. This would be of great value irrespective of any other contents. Unfortunately it does not so his comments are misleading. Only two small details of the Mongol Invasion scroll are illustrated and are scenes that have been included in countless other English language publications (samurai attacking a Mongol ship, bomb exploding near a mounted samurai). This book is only really intended for newcomers to Japanese history and anyone else will be disappointed. Luckily I was able to see the true contents of the book at a local bookshop so I didn't waste any money buying 'sight unseen'. To see large portions of the Mongol Invasion and Heiji scroll find 'Japan: A History in Art' by Bradley Smith instead. A new book called 'Not in Need of Divine Intervention' by Thomas D Conlan reproduces the whole Mongol Invasion scroll and also includes a full translation of all the text.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lavishly Illustrated Introduction to Japanese History, March 27, 2004

By 

jrmspnc (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, AD 1000-1700 (Hardcover)

Chock full of feudal Japanese paintings and photographs, this volume of What Life Is Like is a pleasing additon to any library. The series title is somewhat misleading; this is not a look at every day life in feudal Japan. Rather, the text reads exactly like a high school text book: not dumbed down, but not terribly in-depth, either. We are given a rough summary of the politics of Japan from about 1000 to about 1700, with a few pages dedicated to each of the founders of the various "dynasties" (my word) to control Japan, including Michinaga, Takauji, and Ieyasu (better known to the American public as James Clavell's Toranaga). Those looking for a rough outline of Japanese history would be well-served to get this one.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good basic introduction to the era for newbies, January 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: What Life Was Like Among Samurai and Shoguns: Japan, AD 1000-1700 (Hardcover)

For those of us with no prior knowledge of Japanese history, this book is a great way to start out with that particular time period. It is an easy read, with lovely pictures accompanying the text. Please be aware of that in spite of Mr. Turnbulls statements, this is a general overview of that era, NOT a serious in-depth treatment. Regarding the Genji Monogatari, the book refers to it frequently, but in a very superficial manner. The main purpose of this book seems to be to whet the reader's appetite for Japanese history, and in that aspect it was successful for my part.