Two thousand years of Japanese history, told through interconnected portraits of twenty fascinating individuals
Christopher Harding is the author of the widely praised Japan Story- In Search of a Nation, described by Neil MacGregor as 'Masterly. How much I admired it, what a lot I learned from it and, above all, how very much I enjoyed it'. Harding teaches at the University of Edinburgh and frequently broadcasts on Radio 3 and Radio 4.
Skilled, ambitious, mightily impressive ... Harding turns out to be
as adept at describing the country's artistic development as he is
at unpicking its brutal politics. Another of his talents is a sharp
eye for the telling quote that makes these distant presences
tangible ... a marvellous read, full of startling information.
*Sunday Times*
Splendid ... It's an effective way of telling an unfamiliar story,
leavening the course of social change with plenty of enjoyable
individual details.
*Sunday Times*
An enjoyable romp through the ages across the Japanese archipelago
... Harding is in his element ... A tour de force, this imaginative
book may well be the "ideal introduction" for anyone new to Japan
... Vividly written, there are certainly some interesting surprises
to savour along the way.
*BBC History Magazine*
A fresh and fascinating perspective ... By shifting focus without
losing the renowned figures or the sweeping trends but rather
leavening them with formerly unsung individuals, Harding is able to
say something new about the history of Japan and reinvigorate old
stories. As such, this book can act as a primer for the
archipelago's long and complex story, or as a refreshing take on
familiar periods for those already well-versed in the emperors,
shoguns and battlefields.
*Japan Times*
The people included in this look at the lives of 20 of Japan's most
notable characters are not, it's fair to say, household names, but
historian and broadcaster Christopher Harding brings them to life
with warmth and insight. Together, they offer a great primer to the
nation's expansive, dynamic story.
*History Revealed, Book of the Month*
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