Who would believe its the last Friday of 2017? Another year has gone, another year older. I'm making a resolution this year to try and finish all the unread books on my Kindle. I know that with the time and inclination I can get through a 450 odd page novel in a weekend. At least, I've done it a couple of times. With the Christmas rush over, hopefully, there will be more reading time for a while.
Today, I am sharing a book with a quite unique subject and setting The Samurai's Heart by Walt Mussell is set in late 16th century Japan. Only recently has the history of Christianity in Early Modern Japan come to the attention of the Western world.
Briefly, it was Catholic and Jesuit priests from areas like Portugal which brought the faith to the region in the sixteenth century: but towards the close of the century, the Japanese authorities chose to ban Christianity, leading to some terrible persecution.
I know little about these events or Japanese history in general: although I have seen the movie Silence and even listened to the audiobook, and I recall reading an article a while back about historians discovering cross-like patterns in Samurai swords. Christian Samurai: the whole idea just turns our whole idea of history on its head.
Briefly, it was Catholic and Jesuit priests from areas like Portugal which brought the faith to the region in the sixteenth century: but towards the close of the century, the Japanese authorities chose to ban Christianity, leading to some terrible persecution.
I know little about these events or Japanese history in general: although I have seen the movie Silence and even listened to the audiobook, and I recall reading an article a while back about historians discovering cross-like patterns in Samurai swords. Christian Samurai: the whole idea just turns our whole idea of history on its head.
Anyway, I got this book a few months ago from Kindle Scout:
Japan, 1587. Sen must find a husband to marry into her family’s swordsmith business. She seeks a Christian husband, though Christianity is banned.Enter Nobuhiro. Third son of a high-level samurai, Nobuhiro fled his harsh father and apprenticed himself to a swordsmith. He yearns to prove his worth.
They seem an ideal match. But for Sen, the choice is faith or family. For Nobuhiro, choosing a Christian ends any reconciliation with his family. Can love be forged from the impossible?
The book comes with a handy glossary and a list of the characters (always useful), and the first line reads thus:
"By the order of the Regent, Christianity has been banned from the nation".
Happy Friday from little old England, and see you again in 2018!