Samurai - Couverture rigide

Man, John

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0593065042 ISBN 13 : 9780593065044

Editeur : Bantam Press, 2011

Synopsis

The extraordinary story of the warrior Saigo Takamori, whose death marked the end of the Samurai era.

A propos du livre

À propos de l'auteur

John Man is a historian and travel writer with a special interest in Japan and China. His books have been published in over twenty languages. His previous books include The Great Wall, Xanadu, Attila and the bestselling Genghis Khan.

À propos de la deuxième de couverture

With their elaborate armour, fierce swordsmanship and strict code of honour, the samurai are iconic warriors, their fame immortalized in films - from The Seven Samurai to Star Wars - novels, video games and martial-arts clubs.

This is the story of the real 'last samurai', Saigo Takamori. Born in 1827 in Japan's far south, Saigo's life was defined by the samurai ethos: by Bushido, the Way of the Warrior; by the right to bear swords; by death-defying bravado; by faithful service to his lord, the shogun and the semi-divine emperor; and, in defeat or ignominy, by 'cutting the belly' in ritual suicide.

Japan's closed society - which had rejected firearms for over two centuries - couldn't resist the turbulent forces of modernity. The arrival of American traders and the need for modern armies consigned the world of the individualistic, sword-wielding samurai to the past. But not before they made one last stand, with Saigo at the head of a rebel army.

But Saigo was no dyed-in-the-wool conservative. He was a scholar, poet, general and cabinet minister who embodied the essence of his society. His surprising life and self-imposed death turned him into one of Japan's greatest heroes. John Man has tracked Saigo's campaign, and shows him to be the key to understanding the emergence of modern Japan - and to explaining why the samurai continue to fascinate us today.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Bantam Press
• Date d'édition: 2011
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0593065042
• ISBN 13: 9780593065044
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 320
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible