Endō Shūsaku Books

Set in 17th-century Japan, this historical fiction follows a perilous expedition to Nueva España, where a zealous Spanish missionary and a disillusioned Samurai seek redemption and lost family lands. The narrative explores deep themes of faith and identity against the backdrop of political intrigue and the persecution of Christians in Japan. With its vivid re-creations and emotional depth, the book offers a poignant reflection on human courage and endurance, earning acclaim as one of Shūsaku Endo's most atmospheric works.

Exploring themes of love, grief, and maternal longing, this collection features a newly discovered novella alongside five poignant short stories by acclaimed Japanese author Shūsaku Endō. The narratives delve into deep emotional landscapes, revealing the complexities of human relationships and the enduring impact of loss. Through Endō's sensitive storytelling, readers are invited to reflect on the profound connections that shape our lives.

A Japanese Catholic, Endo tells the story of two 17th century missionaries attempting to shore up the oppressed Japanese Christian movement. Father Rodrigues has come to Japan to find the truth behind unthinkable rumours that his famous teacher Ferreira has renounced his faith.

In novels such as Silence, Endo Shusaku examined the persecution of Japanese Christians in different historical eras. Sachiko, set in Nagasaki in the painful years between 1930 and 1945, is the story of two young people trying to find love during yet another period in which Japanese Christians were accused of disloyalty to their country.

With an introduction by Martin ScorseseBeneath the light of the candle I am sitting with my hands on my knees, staring in front of me. And I keep turning over in my mind the thought that I am at the end of the earth, in a place which you do not know and which your whole lives through you will never visit.It is 1640 and Father Sebastian Rodrigues, an idealistic Jesuit priest, sets sale for Japan determined to help the brutally oppressed Christians there. He is also desperate to discover the truth about his former mentor, rumoured to have renounced his faith under torture. Rodrigues cannot believe the stories about a man he so revered, but as his journey takes him deeper into Japan and then into the hands of those who would crush his faith, he finds himself forced to make an impossible choice: whether to abandon his flock or his God. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, Silence is Shusaku Endo's most highly acclaimed work and has been called one of the twentieth century's finest novels. As empathetic as it is powerful, it is an astonishing exploration of faith and suffering and an award-winning classic. 'One of the finest historical novels written by anyone, anywhere . . . flawless' David Mitchell'A masterpiece. There can be no higher praise' Daily Telegraph

A group of Japanese tourists embarks on a journey that reveals their personal struggles and connections. As they explore a foreign land, the characters confront their pasts, cultural identities, and the complex emotions tied to loss and memory. The narrative intertwines their individual stories, highlighting themes of belonging, nostalgia, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Through their experiences, the novel captures the beauty and challenges of human relationships and the impact of travel on self-discovery.

Wonderful Fool is the story of Gaston Bonoparte, a young Frenchman who visits Tokyo to stay with his pen-friend Takamori. Gaston is a trusting person with a simple love for others even after they have demonstrated deceit and betrayal, but his appearance and his behaviour prove a bitter disappointment and embarrassment to Takamori and his associates, as Gaston spends his time making friends with street children, stray dogs, prostitutes and gangsters. Endo charts his misadventures with irony, satire and humanity.

A play based on real-life events in 1633, 100 years after Christianity was introduced to Japan. From the author of Silence.

Involves a famous Catholic writer whose comfortable life is shattered when a drunken woman crashes a reception in his honor, claiming that he frequents the red-light district of Tokyo and that his portrait is exhibited in a gallery there. The result: his reputation as a writer, his marriage, and his sense of identity all are placed at risk. A psychological thriller and a literary work of art which, as it subtly peels off layers of the dark side of human nature, grips and propels the reader.

Wonderful Fool is the story of Gaston Bonoparte, a young Frenchman who visits Tokyo to stay with his pen-friend Takamori. Gaston is a trusting person with a simple love for others even after they have demonstrated deceit and betrayal, but his appearance and his behaviour prove a bitter disappointment and embarrassment to Takamori and his associates, as Gaston spends his time making friends with street children, stray dogs, prostitutes and gangsters. Endo charts his misadventures with irony, satire and humanity.

The acclaimed short stories of the master Japanese writer.

In this moving novel, a group of Japanese tourists, each of whom is wrestling with his or her own demons, travels to the River Ganges on a pilgrimage of grace. "Endo has successfully dramatized the discovery that the sacred river of humanity flows within ourselves."--National Catholic Reporter.

A través de la fracasada misión de los sacerdotes occidentales que en el siglo XVII intentaron evangelizar el Japón, Endo propone una sutil reflexión sobre los valores fundamentales de la fe cristiana.Cuando la obra se publicó en Japón fue motivo de apasionadas controversias, obtuvo el prestigioso premio Tanizaki, fue considerada la mejor novela del año y en poco tiempo había vendido millones de ejemplares. Hoy es considerada como la novela más importante de Endo y una pieza fundamental para explicar ciertos caminos emprendidos por la narrativa japonesa de nuestros días.Esta nueva edición incorpora un prólogo escrito especialmente para la ocasión por el traductor de japonés, Jaime Fernández, que contribuye a situarla en el contexto en que surgió y las polémicas en que se vieron envueltos tanto la obra como el autor debido al tema que toca.

Quel terrible secret de son passé Tsukada tente-t-il d'oublier - ou d'expier - en buvant ? Comment un prêtre ocidental, profondément croyant en apparence et qui convertit les Japonais de son entourage, devient-il un défroqué ? Quelle place notre vie laisse-t-elle à la mort ?Au cœur d'un Japon tourné vers l'avenir, Shûsaku Endô essaie de réconcilier traditions ancestrales et enseignement catholique, péché et obsession du rachat, souffrance et courage.

Schweigen ist der wichtigste Roman des gefeierten japanischen Autors Shūsaku Endō. Er verursachte nach seiner Veröffentlichung im Jahr 1966 eine große Kontroverse in Japan. Shūsaku Endō, ein japanischer Katholik, erzählt die Geschichte zweier portugiesischer Missionare, die im siebzehnten Jahrhundert in Japan versuchen, die dortige unterdrückte christliche Bewegung zu unterstützen. 1638 bricht Pater Sebastião Rodrigues nach Japan auf, um der Wahrheit hinter den undenkbaren Gerüchten, dass sein berühmter Lehrer Ferreira seinem Glauben abgeschworen habe, nachzugehen. Nach seiner Ankunft erlebt er die brutale und unmenschliche Verfolgung der Christen. Angesichts der Ereignisse in einer Gesellschaft, die keine Toleranz kennt und in der der Tod an der Tagesordung ist, stellt der Autor die immerwährende Frage: Wie kann Gott zu all dem schweigen?