Shinsengumi: The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps

Book Description

The Tokugawa Shogunate, a group of military governors who ruled Japan until the late 1800s, stayed in power for more than two centuries. Their fall was one of the most important events in Asian history.
Also known as the Meiji Restoration, the shogun's ouster began as a reaction against the elite's willingness to "collaborate" with the West. The samurai took the shogun's position as a sign of weakness.
The samurai plotted to overthrow the shogun. Murder, assassination, and intimidation soon followed. By the end of 1862, hordes of renegade samurai had transformed the streets of Japan's capital streets into a sea of blood.
This vivid historical narrative captures one of the most enthralling and bloodied eras in Japanese history.

Customer Reviews:

Three Phrases Would Have Done It.......2007-01-06

When I saw this book, (quite by accident, actually), I was impressed that here was a book on something that I had never even heard of before. So, the expectation was high.

Hillsborough has tried to bring out the spirit of the organisation without getting bogged down in the details. Actually, it was the details that I was looking for and often the details will give you something of the spirit of the subject anyway. Some of the historical detail was there, and Hillsborough certainly came across as one who knew his subject material and sources. However, with his book being the first in English on the topic, I question whether the deliberate focus away from the said details was justified. For the average non-Japanese, that historical data would have been priceless, as most of us have nothing else about the Shinsengumi to read.

Three phrases were repeated and repeated ad nauseum: "propensity to kill", "will to power" and "self-importance". The latter had some variations, but all three are constantly hammered and drummed into the reader. At one point, the first phrase appears in almost every sentence for about two paragraphs. While it is certainly worthy to explore the motivations of anyone of historical importance, I again question whether the point needed to be laboured to the degree that it was.

A lot of the historical information regarding important incidents involving the Shinsengumi read a bit like a medieval version of "Battle Royale". At one point, I wondered if I were indeed reading a "historical novel" rather than a book on history. This is something to keep in mind, if you are thinking of purchasing the book.

While the book was interesting, it was certainly not fantastic. It left a huge number of unanswered questions and also left me wondering just why the Shinsengumi was feared so much. From what the book described, there were far more vicious individuals around. That information would have gone a long way to create an understanding of just why the Shinsengumi were so feared and hated.

It is an average book, though with nothing else that I know of in English, there is little choice if someone wants to know about the topic. The Shinsengumi are interesting and worth the look, so for that reason alone the book is worth getting. Just don't expect too much from it, that is all.

For all the Shinsengumi fans.......2006-05-04

Shinsengumi is one of most popular historical figures in Japan like 47 Ronins.
If you are fan of Rurouni Kenshin or Peace Maker, you must read this since this is the only English book about Shinsengumi.
I hope someone will translate great Shinsengumi novels like "Moeyo Ken" "Sinsengumi Keppuroku" "Bakumatsu Shinsengumi" etc...someday.

A 'must' for any student of Japanese history and military culture.......2006-04-28

For over two centuries Japan was ruled by the Shogunate under a law of isolationism, but in the mid-1800s this policy was to change with the arrival of Matthew Perry and his armed warships from the U.S. Navy. Their arrival sparked a revolution and the overthrow of the Shogunate: SHINSENGUMI: THE SHOGUN'S LAST SAMURAI CORPS is the first English narrative of these events, tracing the internal conflicts within the Japanese world and the rise in murders, assassination and violence as a result. The Shinsengumi were the most dreaded security force Japan had ever known, and their power and effects are followed through one of the most confrontational periods of Japanese history. A 'must' for any student of Japanese history and military culture.

A propensity to kill..........2005-11-08

Last year, the local foreign-language TV station here in L.A. broadcast an NHK-produced, fictionalized series about the Shinsengumi. The show was gripping, but it was obvious that the whole thing was highly romanticized. Since then, I've been looking for a more historically accurate account of the period, so I was delighted when I found this book.

I did indeed learn a lot more about the Shinsengumi from it. For one thing, the television series presents the group's members as heroes and patriots. By including descriptions of less-than-flattering incidents conveniently left out of the TV version, Hillsborough's book essentially portrays the Shinsengumi as a group of deluded, self-aggrandizing thugs. My personal sense is that there's some truth to be found in both of these approaches. Being aware of television's need to simplify and anoint heroes, I tend to trust books more. In this case, however, the written word doesn't live up to its promise. Neither version presents enough evidence for its own point of view, nor does either generate enough overall credibility to allow the consumer to make anything resembling an informed judgment.

Hillsborough says in the Preface that he's "concentrated on the spirit of the Shinsengumi and their place in history, rather than on trivial details...." To my mind, that's insufficient justification for the disorganized, repetitive writing and overheated descriptions found in this volume.

Regarding organization, I'm no fan of the "Dates and Places" school of history, and I have no trouble with the idea of an author bringing an era alive by telling incidents out of their chronological order. But really, shouldn't there be some kind of reason for jumbling these things? I couldn't discern one here.

The real problem with the book, though, is the shallowness of its analysis. Hillsborough's thesis is appears twofold. First, that a "will to power" combined with "self-aggrandizement" leads to trouble. Second, that the "superior martial spirit, fighting technique, and an unflinching propensity to kill," and the "official sanction to kill" granted by the Tokugawa shogunate is what set the Shinsengumi apart from their peers. This might be true. Repeating it over and over doesn't make it true. At one point, the phrase "propensity to kill" appears eight times in two pages. Several chapters later the point is driven home yet again, with a chapter entitled, yes, "A Propensity to Kill."

The Shinsengumi were a tragic group of idealists trying to hold on to a world that was passing them by. Their goals were lofty; their methods were brutal. I don't believe their leaders were unaware of the tensions between their ideals and reality. Although many were peasants, they were educated and pursued art and culture along with their martial activities. I await the day when an author writing in English treats their complexities with sensitivity and justice.

[Three stars for the information. One for the writing. Average: Two.]

It's About Time!.......2005-10-18

I remember back in the 80's wondering if any english book of any sort would ever come out regarding the Shinsengumi. Over the years since that time I have collected various things on Japanese history that vaguely touch on the group, read small references regarding them in scholarly texts and martial arts magazines, seen a few plays about them, and dozens of movies ranging from noble portrayals of the group to rare stuff where executed members of the group come back as ghosts to haunt their former comrades (lol!). The day has finally come for the Shinsengumi with Romulus Hillsborough's new book.

Like Hillsborough's former works, this book is in the same style that can be considered "Historical Fiction". He acknowledges this in the preface that the book is not entirely nonfiction and gives his reasons for this. With that said, he does use many of the essential Japanese sources used to create his biography of the group. Part of the problem with dealing with the history of the Shinsengumi is that they have become such folk heroes where myth and fact have become blurred. It is the same type of problem one encounters with western gunfighters and the history of the old west. So many movies and novels have been made that are based on all of these guys, but add "creative" elements to the stories that add on to the myth. One can wonder if anything that "corresponds with historical reality" can be seen or written about these folk heroes.

So, with that said, Hillsborough's book does attempt to give a literary type of biography of the Shinsengumi. It is not a dry text that tries to cram all sorts of statistics and dates about the group, but like an artist trying to paint a picture, the book tries to paint portraits about the Shinsengumi using his style of writing. Certain words and phrases are used over and over to hammer home the way he feels about certain people and events. When this book was announced a few years ago I knew, based on Hillsborough's previous works, that he would definitely have a certain viewpoint about the Shinsengumi. They are not always presented in the best possible light. However, I respect the viewpoint since they are, and always will be, a controversial group.

The majority of the book covers the years roughly around 1863-1868. Most of the chapters deal with the key events of their time in Kyoto which are the core years of the Shinsengumi. The time in Kyoto is the most important since that is where they make a name for themselves and when they depart Kyoto everything is downhill after that. There is an epilogue chapter on what happens after the death of Kondo Isami, but at that point the few individuals left aren't really the Shinsengumi anymore in the same sense they were during the Kyoto years. So, it makes sense how he ended the book.

It is a good book for anyone being introduced to the Shinsengumi, but I think any fan of the days leading to the end of the Shogun will enjoy and be challenged by this book.

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori

Average customer rating:

The Life Behind the Legend
Virtue to the End
For me an interesting read
Good Insight into the True life of a Samurai
Agenst all odds

The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori
Mark Ravina
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0471705373

Book Description

The dramatic arc of Saigo Takamori's life, from his humble origins as a lowly samurai, to national leadership, to his death as a rebel leader, has captivated generations of Japanese readers and now Americans as well - his life is the inspiration for a major Hollywood film, The Last Samurai, starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe. In this vibrant new biography, Mark Ravina, professor of history and Director of East Asian Studies at Emory University, explores the facts behind Hollywood storytelling and Japanese legends, and explains the passion and poignancy of Saigo's life. Known both for his scholarly research and his appearances on The History Channel, Ravina recreates the world in which Saigo lived and died, the last days of the samurai.

The Last Samurai traces Saigo's life from his early days as a tax clerk in far southwestern Japan, through his rise to national prominence as a fierce imperial loyalist. Saigo was twice exiled for his political activities -- sent to Japan's remote southwestern islands where he fully expected to die. But exile only increased his reputation for loyalty, and in 1864 he was brought back to the capital to help his lord fight for the restoration of the emperor. In 1868, Saigo commanded his lord's forces in the battles which toppled the shogunate and he became and leader in the emperor Meiji's new government. But Saigo found only anguish in national leadership. He understood the need for a modern conscript army but longed for the days of the traditional warrior.

Saigo hoped to die in service to the emperor. In 1873, he sought appointment as envoy to Korea, where he planned to demand that the Korean king show deference to the Japanese emperor, drawing his sword, if necessary, top defend imperial honor. Denied this chance to show his courage and loyalty, he retreated to his homeland and spent his last years as a schoolteacher, training samurai boys in frugality, honesty, and courage. In 1876, when the government stripped samurai of their swords, Saigo's followers rose in rebellion and Saigo became their reluctant leader. His insurrection became the bloodiest war Japan had seen in centuries, killing over 12,000 men on both sides and nearly bankrupting the new imperial government. The imperial government denounced Saigo as a rebel and a traitor, but their propaganda could not overcome his fame and in 1889, twelve years after his death, the government relented, pardoned Saigo of all crimes, and posthumously restored him to imperial court rank.

In THE LAST SAMURAI, Saigo is as compelling a character as Robert E. Lee was to Americans-a great and noble warrior who followed the dictates of honor and loyalty, even though it meant civil war in a country to which he'd devoted his life. Saigo's life is a fascinating look into Japanese feudal society and a history of a country as it struggled between its long traditions and the dictates of a modern future.

Customer Reviews:

The Life Behind the Legend.......2007-06-05

For those of you who like your reviews short and to the point: this book is just plain wonderful. I used it as an assigned text in a class I taught about modern Japan and will use it again. It is an academic book in that it addresses serious issues, but it is also exceptionally well-written. Those two qualities are usually mutual exclusive of one another. Ravina starts with an arresting sentence: "Where was Saigo Takamori's head?" and the story stays engaging throughout.

Ravina's purpose is to tell the story about the real man behind the Tom Cruise movie of the same name. Readers will discover that there are significant differences between what the film depicted and what really happened. Ravina might tell his story well, but also has an important one. While the Ken Watanabe's Matsumoto was a traditionalist opposed to change, the real Saigo Takamori was one of the Japanese equavilent of George Washington. He helped bring down the Shogun and was a founding father of modern Japan. He was also a learned, thoughtful man who studied the Confucian classics.

One of Ravina's strengths is showing that the many enemies of the Tokugawa family had an easier time agreeing to bring to bring them down than on what should replace their central authority. Saigo had fought against the shogun because they were the hereditary enemies of Satsuma, his daimyo or feudal province and/or lord. He was not prepared to create a modern, central state that abolished Satsuma altogether. Less than happy about the events that were taking place, he quite the new government. A few years later led a revolt against his former comrades. In an important point, Ravina shows that Saigo did a poor job of articulating a message about why he was rebelling, so people with a lot of different agendas who were unhappy at what was happening to Japan for any number of reasons. He literally was a rebel without a cause and has remained an enduring, modern folk hero in modern Japan.

Virtue to the End.......2007-01-06

Saigo Takamori is rightly remembered, despite being a traitor in some people's views. His life was one of ebbs and flows, being at the centre of power in Japan and also at the very fringes in internal exile. Knowing that a character from Cruise's movie was loosely, (very loosely, as it turns out), based on him, I had to read the book about the real man.

"The Last Samurai", (the book from here), is arranged quite well in broad phases of Saigo's life, from childhood to his final battle and campaign. The book focuses a lot on what drove and influenced Saigo, from the Confucian classics he absorbed through Oyomei learning and also Mito thinking. All of these influences profoundly affected Saigo, along with some important events in his life. I was interested in his emphasis on a lord-vassal relationship that took on a very personal nature for him, and was something that he craved.

The book is well referenced and has a good number of endnotes given for various sources and some details additional to the main text. Ravina has clearly written the book as an academic text that is still accessible to the lay reader. Not only that, Ravina manages to keep the interest and grip the reader to the very end.

I liked this book very much, both for the subject matter, but also for the way in which Ravina presents his subject. He keeps Saigo in context with the history around him, and also makes plenty of references to the wider issues that Saigo was involved in and why. This is a great book about a great man.

For me an interesting read.......2006-12-24

After seeing "The Last Samurai;" I was curious to read a little about what really happened with Saigo Takamori.

I was not surprised to see that the movie took the characters in different directions. In the movie Saigo was a defender of tradition and tried to fight against the Westernizing of Japan with the theme of the clash between the old ways of Samurai Swords against the modern ways of the Gun.

Saigo was more of a "rags to riches" story. He went from being the son of a clerk to one of the most powerful men in Japan. He was also instrumental in the dismantling of the Shogunite which ended Japanese feudalism and opened the doors to the 19th Century.

Guided by the principles of Confusism, he garnered such respect that the simple act of refusing to be involved in the Meijin goverment was viewed as a threat by the goverment.

His rebellion got volunteers simply because of a failed plot to assassinate him.

Saigo was a very complex man and the very fact that a great deal of myths were created about him and his rebellion makes the task of studying him almost impossible.

To Ravina's credit he mentions myth and lore several times rather then presenting them as fact.

Overall the book could be labeled rather dry for details rather then being guided through a story.

I would label it a worthwhile addition to a library about the Samurai.

Good Insight into the True life of a Samurai.......2006-11-25

While a true fan of the Samurai movies may enjoy reading about the life and times of the last Samurai, those looking for a "real life" account of the Characters found in the "last Samurai movie" will be sorely disappointed. The first chapter starts out alright, but gets pretty dry with a great number of names, places, dates, and facts, all of which also read pretty foreign to the average reader. Its not too unlike trying to read the old testament, book of numbers or book of kings. However, a fan of politics will certainly appreciate it. The life of Saigo Takamori was one of a civil servent - imagine reading about the life and times of your postal carrier. However, it improves if you get throught the first 2 chapters.

Agenst all odds.......2006-03-08

The plot involved a man who is a sword fighter. His name is Saigo Takamori which is a Japanese name. He would fight his opponents with a wooden boken or Japanese practice sword when they would have a real sword. He would bring his dog to his battles. There is a statue of him in Japan. I liked this book because it was filled with action. Saigo would go matrix sometimes. The thing I did not like was it was too long. I recommend it to people who like to read for long periods of time because it felt like you were hooked. You had to see what was next.

Osaka 1614-15: The Last Samurai Battle (Campaign)

Average customer rating:

Turnbull Assaults Osaka-jo
Samurai Stories Galore
Outstanding
Tokugawa versus Toyotomi....

Osaka 1614-15: The Last Samurai Battle (Campaign)
Stephen Turnbull
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1841769606
Release Date: 2006-06-27

Book Description

In 1614, Osaka Castle was Japan's greatest fortification, measuring approximately 2 miles in length with double circuits of walls, 100 feet high. It was guarded by 100,000 samurai, loyal to their master: the head of the Toyotomi clan, Toyotomi Hideyori. The castle was seemingly impenetrable, however the ruling shogun of the age, Tokugawa Ieyasu, was determined to destroy this one last threat to his position as Japan's ultimate ruler. This book explores the complex background of this bitter struggle, as well as the battle experiences of the opposing forces, in a compelling exploration of the conflict that led to the eventual triumph of one dynasty over another.

Customer Reviews:

Turnbull Assaults Osaka-jo.......2006-11-17

Osaka 1615, Stephen Turnbull's latest Osprey effort, is a welcome addition to the sparse English sources on Japanese warfare. Much of the information in this volume is presented in English for the first time, and Turnbull does a good job of detailing the movements and maneuverings of the two armies. I found his coverage of the many small battles occurring at the beginning of the Winter Osaka Campaign to be particularly well done and helpful. The orders of battle are highly detailed and extensive. As always, Turnbull excels in his ability to breath life into what could otherwise be a straightforward military history with many stories of the `glorious' (and not so glorious, as in the case of a commander who was lying drunk in a brothel as his fort was being captured) deeds performed. The volume is loaded with prints, woodcuts, and modern photos of the battlefields from Turnbull's archives (one of the best and most diverse sources to be found outside Japan). Colorful and detailed maps round out the volume. At 96 pages, it's not quite as extensive as could be hoped for, but hey, that's Osprey.
I'd like here to address some points made by another reviewer that I found rather odd, as Turnbull covers them all in his volume.
1)"Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility)"
Artillery fire WAS the decisive factor in the Winter campaign (and henceforth the campaign as a whole). After several failed assaults on the Osaka castle defenses, Ieyasu decided to take a different approach. He knew his best bet was to prompt Lady Yodo (Toyotomi Hideyori's mother) to coerce her son into entering peace negotiations. Ieyasu knew Lady Yodo well, and his keen insight into her nature led him to believe that opening up on her living quarters with his artillery would have the desired effect...and he was right. The artillery bombardments of the keep (along with the entreaties of Yodo's family members sent as envoys by Ieyasu) drove the Toyotomi to a disastrous agreement with Ieyasu that ended up leaving the castle stripped of much of its defenses. The superior range of the Tokugawa cannon meant that they could bombard the keep at will without fear of retaliation. Rate of fire and mobility were simply not important factors, and for that matter even the physical damage they caused. Without the artillery, it's likely that the siege would have taken many extra months or perhaps years...if the Tokugawa coalition held that long.
2)"...or how many casualties occurred."
Turnbull doesn't discuss this for the simple reason that there exist no contemporary records of casualties for the battles as a whole. Anything on his part would be no more than wild speculation.
3)"Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior."
Welcome to the world of samurai warfare, where operational decisions many times tended to be on the `There's the enemy-go get them!' and `We're being attacked-go get them' level. Some armies such as the Shimazu or Uesugi would pull off well planned ambushes and assaults, but these were the exception rather than the rule.
4)"After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side)."
As Turnbull explained, the Toyotomi forces (outnumbered two to one) found their initial assault blunted as the Tokugawa continually brought fresh troops into the battle (while the Toyotomi forces became more and more tired and depleted). When the assault ground to a halt, the Toyotomi commander (Sanada Yukimura) was killed and their exhausted forces broke.
The book is not without its faults (I'd give it 4.8 stars rather than 5)...there are a few typos (for example, Kyushu is spelled Kyosho on page 9). The map of the battle of Domyoji on pages 70-71 has some mislabeling (there are two number 3's on the map-one of which should be #2-and number 1 & 2 on the map should both be labeled `1'). The same map also shows further troop positions on the Toyotomi side that do not agree with Japanese sources and appear to be incorrect. There's also some statements made to the effect that the walls and outworks of the castle look now just as they did in 1615-not so, as the original Toyotomi walls and structures were covered with dirt and built upon for the `Tokugawa' version of Osaka castle built around 1620. Likewise, the present keep is said to be based upon the Toyotomi version of the keep-however, the dimensions, number of roofs, and even something as basic as the castle's color are completely different.
All in all, however, Turnbull has done an exceptional job with the book given the limited space. There's something to be learned here for both serious scholars and casual readers. Highly recommended for any aficionado of Japanese history!

Samurai Stories Galore.......2006-08-12

In Osaka 1615, Osprey Campaign #170, Samurai expert Dr. Stephen Turnbull provides an interesting summary of the final battle that unified Japan under the Tokugawa shogunate. I have been reading Turnbull's work since I was a student in Japan in the early '80s, when I also had chance to visit Osaka Castle. In short, Turnbull has a huge wealth of Samurai-related knowledge that he is able to convey on these pages to fascinate readers who enjoy Eastern tales of derring-do. Unfortunately, Turnbull is somewhat weaker on examining the actual military aspects of the campaign, such as why the Tokugawa won (yes the artillery was important, but simply not decisive at this point in history due to slow rate of fire and limited battlefield mobility) or how many casualties occurred. The author presents the reader with one Samurai account after another, but after awhile they start to appear as ciphers since we really don't know much about most of them. Turnbull's methodology for the most part ignores how units fought or operational decisions in favor of spotlighting individual behavior.

The volume follows the standard Osprey campaign format, with the usual 2-D and 3-D maps. Dr. Turnbull divides the campaign narrative into the winter and summer phases. I must admit that Dr. Turnbull adds good insight into Tokugawa Ieyasu's character, but most of the other leaders remain obscure. After reading the description of the main actions on 3-4 June 1615 I found it difficult to gauge from this volume why exactly one side prevailed (other than the obviously higher level of initiative on the Tokugawa side). Since the author admits that the final battle could have gone either way, this question deserved better analysis. Overall, this volume covers the subject fairly well, although it remains aloof from military issues, such as logistics, intelligence.

Outstanding.......2006-08-11

I have been reading and enjoying Stephen Turnbull's books since 1978. His latest book about Osaka in 1615 as the last battle of the samurai is outstanding. I pre-ordered it knowing it would be good, but I was blown away by how comprehensive it was.
Turnbull has a seemingly enless number of stories about the samurai. Interesting anecdotes such as the question of Tokugawa Ieyasu being killed and replaced by a kagemusha (shadow warrior)is fascinating. I am looking forward to his next book due out this fall.

Tokugawa versus Toyotomi...........2006-07-28

This proves to be a valued addition to the Osprey Campaign series. The author, Stephen Turnbull wrote a great summary book on one of final major campaigns fought by the Japanese samurai during their heydays.

The campaign in question was Tokugawa Ieyasu's effort to secured his family rule of Japan by destroying the only other family who had the power and prestiage to challenge him. That family was the one of Toyotomi Hideyori, son of the great Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. While Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 created the Tokugawa Shogunate, Osaka Campaign of 1615 secured it for the next 250 years.

This book proves to be well written, well research and reflects strongly on the author's command of the subject. The author explains clearly the motives, directions and purpose of the campaign. The campaign ironically proves to be some sort of a Sekigahara Part II type of scenario since so many members of the Toyotomi army were made up of survivors who lost the first battle.

The book is organized into Osprey's typical set-up of introduction, background, commanders, troop type and finally the campaign itself. The entire book is exactly 96 pages long including the index. It come well illustrated, the maps are easy to read and followed and there some which proves to be very useful. The author have also provided some very nice order of the battle as well.

Overall, the book come highly recommended for anyone interested in Japanese samurai history. This book will go superbly well with Ospery's earlier book on Sekigahara by Anthony Bryant which proves to be equally well written.

Average customer rating:

genius-or not?
Good reading, once the horizon has stabilised
Some of my foavourite people are obsure single mothers
enamoringly eloquent
Amazing

The Last Samurai
Helen De Witt
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786887001

Amazon.com

Helen DeWitt's extraordinary debut, The Last Samurai, centers on the relationship between Sibylla, a single mother of precocious and rigorous intelligence, and her son, who, owing to his mother's singular attitude to education, develops into a prodigy of learning. Ludo reads Homer in the original Greek at 4 before moving on to Hebrew, Japanese, Old Norse, and Inuit; studying advanced mathematical techniques (Fourier analysis and Laplace transformations); and, as the title hints, endlessly watching and analyzing Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece, The Seven Samurai. But the one question that eludes an answer is that of the name of his father: Sibylla believes the film obliquely provides the male role models that Ludo's genetic father cannot, and refuses to be drawn on the question of paternal identity. The child thinks differently, however, and eventually sets out on a search, one that leads him beyond the certainties of acquired knowledge into the complex and messy world of adults.

The novel draws on themes topical and perennial--the hothousing of children, the familiar literary trope of the quest for the (absent) father--and as such, divides itself into two halves: the first describes Ludo's education, the second follows him in his search for his father and father figures. The first stresses a sacred, Apollonian pursuit of logic, precise (if wayward) erudition, and the erratic and endlessly fascinating architecture of languages, while the second moves this knowledge into the world of emotion, human ambitions, and their attendant frustrations and failures.

The Last Samurai is about the pleasure of ideas, the rich varieties of human thought, the possibilities that life offers us, and, ultimately, the balance between the structures we make of the world and the chaos that it proffers in return. Stylistically, the novel mirrors this ambivalence: DeWitt's remarkable prose follows the shifts and breaks of human consciousness and memory, capturing the intrusions of unspoken thought that punctuate conversation while providing tantalizing disquisitions on, for example, Japanese grammar or the physics of aerodynamics. It is remarkable, profound, and often very funny. Arigato DeWitt-sensei. --Burhan Tufail

Book Description

This is the story of a single mother, Sibylla, who comes from a long line of frustrated talents, and her son Ludo, who just happens to be a genius. Obsessed with the film The Seventh Samurai, she makes it a running backdrop to Ludo's childhood. At five Ludo learns ancient Greek, reading Homer as they travel round and round on the London Underground, teaches himself Hebrew, Arabic, Inuit, probability theory, astronomy, and is moving on to Japanese when he decides to embark on the search for his father - preferably the perfect father in the heroic mould, or at the very least, one with samurai virtues. He is bound for disappointment, and to find out more than he needs about his mother's shaky past. And at the heart of this completely delightful, captivating novel is the boy's changing relationship with his mother - contradictory, touching, and tender.

Full of linguistic pyrotechnics, fabulous learning, philosophy, science, and the workings of a brilliant mind, this is a must-read novel for everyone who relishes language, extravagant ideas, game theory, science, parenthood, not to mention Kurosawa's cinematic masterpiece.

Customer Reviews:

genius-or not?.......2007-09-01

i started this book a few days ago and ate it like candy---nearly half the book in one day! i'm at a stand still though, for a Review....while i love the book"s premise---SingleMother/Smart Kid ...i have to wonder...Sibylla seems to be a frustrated Genius who"s trying like hell to make her son into something she could never be..and He has the potential she never had. is she Crazy? aren't all Geniuses crazy? i"m having a hard time getting through the last half of the book ...since Ludo is no longer a Child and has found out who his father is...i love this book for the Challenge-and not just the Greek/Japanese/Esoterica...the challenge of bringing Myself into this reading experience...does that make sense to anyone but me...and am i in the wrong Space here???help me, am i crazy,too..i'll post more as i finish this wondrous,scary book...WORD, here

Good reading, once the horizon has stabilised.......2007-04-23

This book is certainly a virtuoso performance. The only problem in such cases, is that sometimes the display of virtuosity can seem to become an end in itself, as with John Fowles's later works (i.e. all of them except the first). Here, fortunately, as with Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series, the style settles down once the author has got this out of her system.

I was reminded of Nancy Mitford's equally hilarious The Blessing, because both that book and this are about precocious children (and how utterly unprepared the average adult is to deal with them); although they actually have little else in common, except that each is first rate in its way...

Anyway, I recommend this book to you, not because it's clever, but because it's extremely entertaining.

And a bonus: however much you may know about the dialogue in Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, at the end of this opus you will know even more (perhaps more than you wanted to know, but that's another matter).

Some of my foavourite people are obsure single mothers.......2007-04-06

This book reminds you that if you find yourself poor, and a single parent with a dead end job, you can still be the most interesting and intriguing person on the planet. Its the story of two humble people living the life of the mind.

enamoringly eloquent.......2007-03-31

A swath of the life of a boy prodigy and his mother. A love of languages and grammer and words is a must in order to appreciate the fine nuances of the writing. This book is among the most entrancing you will read for a long time.

Amazing.......2007-01-30

A previous reveiwer wrote: "It Doesn't Take a Genius to Appreciate This Book"
I would add: "it takes a moron NOT to appreciate it."

Appraising Genji: Literary Criticism and Cultural Anxiety in the Age of the Last Samurai

Average customer rating:

Appraising Genji: Literary Criticism and Cultural Anxiety in the Age of the Last Samurai
Patrick W. Caddeau
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Greek | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

Murasaki Shikibu's eleventh-century Tale of Genji is the most revered work of fiction in Japan. This book explores Genji's reception over the years and its place in Japanese culture.

Average customer rating:

Putting things in perspective
Great Companion Guide to the Movie
A masterpiece just like the movie.
Gorgeous, but.....
I found some mistakes.

The Last Samurai Official Movie Guide
Warner Bros. Pictures
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Last Samurai: The Life and Battles of Saigo Takamori
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Gladiator: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebooks)
The Last Samurai
Kingdom of Heaven: The Making of the Ridley Scott Epic (Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook)

ASIN: B000FILKUQ

Book Description

o behind the scenes of Edward Zwick's (Legends of the Fall, Glory) powerful epic set during Japan's turbulent movement away from a feudal society and into a modern nation. Tom Cruise stars as Captain Nathan Algren, battle-scarred Civil War veteran turned Winchester gun spokesman, who travels to Japan in 1876 to train the emperor's troops. With his western-trained troops in place, Emperor Meiji plans to sever ties with the traditional samurai warriors who protect the territories. But during combat, Algren is wounded and captured by the samurai. And it is while in captivity that he discovers the warrior code of honor and undergoes a spiritual transformation that will align him with the very samurai he was sent to quell.

Customer Reviews:

Putting things in perspective.......2004-06-15

The movie The Last Samurai as a history is problematic. the movie places a white man -- in this case, an american -- at the center of a rather significant period in Japanese history -- the Meiji era. In reality, the americans did not figure that signficantly -- at that time -- in altering Japanese history and there was no "Dances with Wolves" type scenario and the Emperor never received audiences as per the movie.

This illustrated "making of" is valuable in that it situates the historical "realities" as per the movie and sets things in perspective. In particular, the section on Saigo Takamori and the Satsuma Rebellion (34-5) and codification of the Bushido (60-61) show a more concrete Japan sans the exotic. What both the movie and the book fail to explore is the Iwakura Mission of 1871 where Prince Iwakura Tomomi sets out to learn from the best of the best all over the world in an effort to stave of being the meal rather than the guest to the colonial banquet.

As a commentary to the movie it is excellent. A great coffee table book and a step in the right direction.

Miguel Llora

Great Companion Guide to the Movie.......2004-04-06

I believe this film was highly underated and didnt get the recoqnition it deserved. The book was magnificent. Great color pictures and photo shots from the movie. Great behind the scenes look at the making of the movie and the history of the Samurai class in feudal Japan. Buy the book if you liked the Movie...I sure did.

A masterpiece just like the movie........2004-02-18

This book is filled with magnificent photographs and information of history contained throughout the film, along with behind the scenes info. The book also contains segments of the movie script.
An excellent companion to the outstanding movie.

Gorgeous, but............2003-12-22

Exactly who is this Colonel Covington?

As a decade-long resident of Colorado and reenactor, I can't believe such a beautiful book as this would seemingly slip as to give a name to a person who never existed.
I am familiar with Col. John M. Chivington, the Butcher of Sand Creek, and his bloody troop. It is hard to NOT know of this fiend who used his faith to justify outright slaughter. Wars need to be fought among soldiers, not towards innocents. Ah, but I digress.

I would have much wished that the folks at Time Inc. had caught this typo before these books were sent to press. It would have made all the difference to preserve the integrity of this book.
At least from a historical perspective.

My view is petty in light of this book's appeal. Forgive my mentioning the point but it is the only thing that marred my looking through it and savoring its images and glimpse into the film.

I found some mistakes........2003-12-19

Yes, this is a good movie book. This book helps American people to understand Japanese history, which this movie is based on.
However, I found some mistakes in the Japanese translation. For example, the definition of Ashigaru and Kote are totally wrong. (Ashigaru should be Yabusame, and Kote is glove.)
I am really disappointed about these mistakes, because the movie is excellent and I could feel that all the staff tried to make everything authentic.
But overall, this book helps people to understand the different culture, which even new Japanese generation like me sometimes feel difficult to understand.

Average customer rating:

A good history account of the battle for Saipan
An insightful look into the mind of a Japanese soldier

Oba, the Last Samurai: Saipan 1944-45
Don Jones
Manufacturer: Presidio Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | History | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

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No Surrender: My Thirty-Year War (Bluejacket Books)

ASIN: 089141245X

Customer Reviews:

A good history account of the battle for Saipan.......2004-05-21

Overall, this is a good book. It starts out with Oba and many men from his town being shipped off to war. It pretty much ends at his surrender.
Oba: The Last Samurai is a good book because it goes into detail and tells about many factors. It also tells about seemingly insignificant human reactions rarely touched upon in historical accounts, such as Sakae Oba's emotions and what he felt during the whole time he lived in the hills. However, I agree with the professional review. It ends too soon and abruptly. It leaves readers wanting to know what happened to him after the war. Personally, I believe that more information on the individuals involved in this whole battle would be welcome, as well, such as some background on Horiuchi, some of the Americans, and others, but that's just me.

An insightful look into the mind of a Japanese soldier.......1997-09-28

An insightful look into the mind of a Japanese soldier. Oba and 300 others eluded capture for over a year on the small island of Saipan occupied by the Americans. The book touches on the many levels and degrees of victory. Both, on a personal, human level and on a militaristic level.

Average customer rating:

A real knockout
Wow!

The Last Samurai
Helen DeWitt
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0099284626

Customer Reviews:

A real knockout.......2005-11-03

Why is this book not at least #200 on amazon's rankings, and why are there not at least 200 laudatory reviews of it? The Last Samurai (no relation at all to the Tom Cruise movie) is one of the most fascinating and compelling and challenging books I've ever read. Since I'm a writer myself, I'm usually rather grudging in my praise of other authors. But Dewitt deserves all the praise and attention she can get, because her book is not just a novel, it's a major accomplishment that I have no hope of ever matching, so I'll be content with just admiring it. Smashing job, Dewitt.

Wow!.......2005-09-21

Author DeWitt performs scholarly acrobatics in this unique and energetic novel which never flags--and certainly never bores! Although DeWitt incorporates many esoteric subjects here--Japanese language, Greek verbs, Icelandic verse, Fourier's analysis, Arabic, astrophysics, and tournament chess, bridge, and piquet, among other things--she does this so entertainingly that they enhance, rather than obscure, the human story at the heart of the novel, even for readers like me with little interest in many of these subjects.

Sybilla is the hard-working, single mother of Ludo, a 6-year-old genius who gobbles up even the most complicated subjects, seemingly overnight. Despite his precocity, however, Ludo is a very engaging and in many ways, typical, child, and the relationship between mother and son is mutually warm, respectful, and endearingly protective. Both Sybilla and Ludo are fans of Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, and this forms the framework of the novel when Ludo decides to test seven fascinating and brilliant men Sybilla has known to see which, if any, of them might be his unknown father.

This book has everything. It is funny and sad and disarming and challenging--simultaneously amusing and poignant, and thought-provoking. The many layers which emerge as Ludo engages in his quest should keep readers, critics, and book clubs intrigued and entertained for years. But the book is at heart an absorbing human story--of identity, of aspirations and achievement, and, ultimately, of the love and connection which makes our personal journeys worthwhile. A wonder-filled achievement from beginning to totally satisfying end. Mary Whipple

Average customer rating:

The Last Samurai
Nick Carter
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0441471838

Average customer rating:

The Last Samurai
Helen DeWitt
Manufacturer: Chatto & Windus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHABP8

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