This is a masterful story set in Dejima, the Dutch trading enclave in Japan, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It involves characters--Dutch, Japanese, British, Irish, Malay--conflicted, evil, righteous, dedicated, curious--facing cultural differences, temptations, matters of conscience, fear, loneliness. The story quietly brings little pieces of history into the story without being pedantic--the determination of the Japanese to keep out Christianity, hidden Christians in Japan who have been severed from teachings for centuries, the impact of the Napoleonic Wars in Asia, the hunger among educated Japanese for western learning, slavery as practiced by Europeans in Asia, etc. I will be happily researching these pieces of history for awhile.
And it is a rousing good story!

This book is on its way to Tsjara from the Passport to the World VBB

That was quick! The book is here already, what a lovely surprise! (I had quite forgotten to send you a message after picking your book from the vbb, oops..) Thank you so much for sending it itpdx!
I remember reading somewhere that David Mitchell was here in the city of Leiden doing research for the book at the University and at the Japan museum (Sieboldhuis - which is nearly next to it) dedicated to the long standing ties between Japan and the Netherlands. (Thought it was a funny coincidence as around that time I was studying there at the Uni and visited the museum too, I wonder if I might have spotted him if I knew what he looked like :P)


Reserved for AmberC (Yummy VBB)

This took me quite a while to read, and even though the story is a bit slow going, I enjoyed it very much. The writing is really good, the descriptions of life in that period just draws you in, and there are so many ideas/subjects woven into the story as well.
In the beginning I did have a little trouble trying to keep track of all the names and characters. (The middle part with Ogawa Uzaemon was a bit of a shock. Did that really happen? No, it can't be!)

Anyway, I am glad I got the chance to read this (thanks itpdx), and the book will travel onwards to a new reader.

Jacob de Zoet is off to another continent (AmberC in Australia). :)

Happy reading!

This cleverly packed book has arrived.

Well researched, well written and full of detail.

On the book swap shelf.