Shogun by James Clavell

[Comet]

Was curious as to your opinions on Shogun by James Clavell.

I am sure my opinion of it is far higher than most but it is one of my ten all-time favorite novels and I firmly consider it one of the 100 greatest novels ever written.

I have read Shogun about a dozen times in my life and it never tires. Every time I commence it draws me in and doesn't release me until the final page is read.

A true masterpiece, in my humble opinion.

What are your views?

[cafolini]

Indeed a masterpiece and a revelation of Japaneese traditions up to the end of wwii. An imperative for anyone wanting to know about Shogun and Japan in general. Although a fantasy due to the speculations as to what exactly happened, the history in it is fairly accurate. Not to say that Shogun ever died. After Hirohito surrendered unconditionally, the remnants of Shogun were all over. The emperor was always just the political figure divine, but Japan was always run by military might until 1945. And after MacArthur forced Hirohito to tell the people that he was not divine, the cloud of Shogun still invaded the Diet in the words of the Prince. Amazing novel. Perhaps no other tells so much about the history of Japan with all the necessary intrigues of the setup and of course the smart asses and absolute and absolutist madness of all involved.
Henry VIII was healthy in comparison.