From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…
Find A Copy At
Group Discussions About This Book
No group discussions for this book yet.
What Members Thought

This was a fine example of everything that I love in historical novels. I love learning about a specific place and time in history by immersing myself in a well-imagined (and well-researched) world. This book takes place in the Dutch trading post off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan, before Japan opened itself to foreign trade or influence (around 1800). The circumstances offer an incredibly unique anthropological study - the ability of Europeans, or Westerners, to observe and report the behavior, c
...more

I was enticed and stayed so throughout this book about Nagasaki before Japan was opened to the world. Trading, relationships and Japan's culture were all explored in this book.
...more

Aug 26, 2010
Meghan
marked it as to-read

Dec 11, 2010
Greer
marked it as to-read

Jun 22, 2011
Jamie
marked it as need-to-get

Feb 09, 2012
Garry Powell
marked it as to-read

Aug 13, 2012
Devin
marked it as to-read

Feb 10, 2015
Charles
marked it as to-read

Mar 09, 2016
Fee
marked it as to-read

Sep 09, 2016
Jay Corrales
marked it as to-read

Dec 06, 2018
Arpit
marked it as to-read

Jan 13, 2020
Johanne
marked it as to-read

Nov 29, 2021
Keeley
marked it as to-read