Lesley Downer Book order

Discover the aesthetic traditions, political resilience, and modern economic might of this singular island nation. Zen, haiku, martial arts, sushi, anime, manga, film, video games . . . Japanese culture has long enriched our Western way of life. Yet from a Western perspective, Japan remains a remote island country that has long had a complicated relationship with the outside world.Japan—an archipelago strung like a necklace around the Asian mainland—is considerably farther from Asia than Britain is from Europe. The sea has provided an effective barrier against invasion and enabled the culture to develop in unique ways. During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shoguns successfully closed the country to the West. Then, Japan swung in the opposite direction, adopting Western culture wholesale. Both strategies enabled it to avoid colonization—and to retain its traditions and way of life.A skilled storyteller and accurate historian, Lesley Downer presents the dramatic sweep of Japanese history and the larger-than-life individuals—from emperors descended from the Sun Goddess to warlords, samurai, merchants, court ladies, women warriors, geisha, and businessmen—who shaped this extraordinary modern society. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced read.

It is completely absorbing, showing Lesley Downer's deep knowledge of Japan and her mastery of its complex history during the nineteenth century. LIAN HEARN, author of Across the Nightingale Floor

In 1870s Japan, Taka and Nobu meet as children and fall in love, but their relationship challenges societal norms. Following a civil war, Japan is modernizing with rickshaws, railways, and educational reforms. Social mobility allows commoners to marry across classes, and the historical animosities seem to fade. Taka belongs to the influential southern Satsuma clan, led by her father, General Kitaoka, while Nobu hails from the northern Aizu clan, once decimated by the Satsuma forces. Their love must remain secret due to family enmity, but unforeseen events shift the balance of power. Discontent brews among southern samurai, stripped of their swords and honor by the new regime. Taka's father returns to Kyushu, where unrest is escalating. As he and his clan rebel, the government deploys its new army, which includes Nobu and his brothers seeking revenge against the Satsuma. Caught in a web of loyalty and love, Nobu faces the possibility of fighting Taka's father and brother, while Taka is forced to choose between her family and her heart.

Japan, 1868: the last shogun has been defeated, the age of the emperors is about to begin and in Japan's frozen north a diehard band of loyalists plans a desperate last stand.

Epic history and romance combine in a sweeping novel featuring the beautiful mistress of the last shogun emperor.

The fascinating story of a geisha who captivated the West

La geisha è un enigma. È una contraddizione vivente nel Giappone "high tech" del terzo millennio. È l'incarnazione stessa dell'anima del paese. Con tenace pazienza, l'autrice ha saputo schiudere le porte di questo mondo segreto per combinare i curiosi dettagli di quattrocento anni di storia, svelando ad esempio che le prime geishe erano uomini, e che gli uomini geisha esistono ancora.

Contrary to popular opinion, geisha are not prostitutes but literally 'arts people'. Their accomplishments include singing, dancing or playing an instrument and they are masters of the art of conversation. The history of the geisha is explored here.

Die britische Japan-Expertin Lesley Downer erzählt die spannende und affärenreiche Geschichte des Milliardär-Clans, dessen einzigartiger Aufstieg zur Wirtschaftsdynastie in einem erbarmungslosen Bruderkrieg endete.