Memoirs of the Warrior Kumagai: A Historical Novel (Tuttle Classics of Japanese Literature) by Donald Richie  (1)
$16.95
|
This item is not eligible for Amazon Prime, but millions of other items are. Join Amazon Prime today. Already a member? Sign in.
|
|||||||||
Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Reality and fantasy collide in this engrossing tale of two warring clans vying for power, prestige and the chance to influence the man who sits on the chrysanthemum throne. Setting her tale in Japan during the last days of the Heian period (roughly 1153-1185 C.E.), Dalkey (Blood of the Goddess) deftly uses her knowledge of Japanese culture, mannerisms and bloodthirsty politicking to chronicle the wars of rebellion and counter-rebellion that end in the death of the emperor and the rise of the first Japanese shogun. Two rival clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, clash numerous times over a period of 30 years, with each clan calling on the aid of demons or gods to gain superiority and power. Did demons and gods play a part in the brutal wars of competing emperors and the rise of the Japanese shogunate? Dalkey dramatizes the tantalizing possibilities of what might have been if they had. While she succeeds in bringing the history, customs and traditions of Japan to life, her many characters maintain a remoteness that will keep most readers from caring about any individual. In addition, the fantasy realm of the demons and gods that she posits is rather intangible and distant. But even so, the book, which reads more like a historical novel of political intrigue than a fantasy, boasts a strong story that holds the attention. (Feb. 12)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The war between the rival Minamoto and Taira clans paved the way for the rule of Japan's first Shogun in the 12th century and gave birth to numerous legends of wondrous creatures and powerful items of magic. Dalkey (Blood of the Goddess) brings to life the legends and myths of medieval Japan in this vivid tale of dragons and ghosts, talking birds, and rolling skulls that captures the atmosphere of a land rich in fantasy and tradition. Her storytelling talent and attention to detail produce a grand-scale epic that should appeal to fans of historical fantasy.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Reality and fantasy collide in this engrossing tale of two warring clans vying for power, prestige and the chance to influence the man who sits on the chrysanthemum throne. Setting her tale in Japan during the last days of the Heian period (roughly 1153-1185 C.E.), Dalkey (Blood of the Goddess) deftly uses her knowledge of Japanese culture, mannerisms and bloodthirsty politicking to chronicle the wars of rebellion and counter-rebellion that end in the death of the emperor and the rise of the first Japanese shogun. Two rival clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, clash numerous times over a period of 30 years, with each clan calling on the aid of demons or gods to gain superiority and power. Did demons and gods play a part in the brutal wars of competing emperors and the rise of the Japanese shogunate? Dalkey dramatizes the tantalizing possibilities of what might have been if they had. While she succeeds in bringing the history, customs and traditions of Japan to life, her many characters maintain a remoteness that will keep most readers from caring about any individual. In addition, the fantasy realm of the demons and gods that she posits is rather intangible and distant. But even so, the book, which reads more like a historical novel of political intrigue than a fantasy, boasts a strong story that holds the attention. (Feb. 12)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The war between the rival Minamoto and Taira clans paved the way for the rule of Japan's first Shogun in the 12th century and gave birth to numerous legends of wondrous creatures and powerful items of magic. Dalkey (Blood of the Goddess) brings to life the legends and myths of medieval Japan in this vivid tale of dragons and ghosts, talking birds, and rolling skulls that captures the atmosphere of a land rich in fantasy and tradition. Her storytelling talent and attention to detail produce a grand-scale epic that should appeal to fans of historical fantasy.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
See all Editorial Reviews
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
