The Samurai (Masterplots II: World Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Shūsaku Endō
- First Published: 1980
- Type of Work: Historical realism
- Time of Work: 1612-1624
- Setting: Edo, Nunozawa, and Tsukinoura, all cities in Japan; various places in New Spain; Seville and Madrid in Spain; and Rome, Italy
- Principal Characters: Rokuemon Hasekura, Lord Ishida, Masamune Date, Father Velasco, The Man in Tecali, Yozo
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Politics, Missions or missionaries, Seventeenth century, Rulers, Catholics or Catholic Church, Italy or Italians, Japan or Japanese people, Spain or Spanish people, Isolation, Samurai
- Locales: Spain, Italy, Japan, New Spain
The Novel
Dealing with a relatively obscure mission to New Spain, today known as Mexico, mounted by the feudal overlord of a district in seventeenth century Japan surrounding the modern northeastern city of Sendai, Shūsaku Endō’s The Samurai focuses on the fundamental effects of the Tokugawa period on Japan, of Japan’s association with European Roman Catholic missionaries, and of its ultimate decision to close the country to all foreign influence. Endō’s interest in the episode arises from its relative obscurity and the lack of surviving historical records. His...
[The entire page is 2513 words long]
Navigate
- The Samurai (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
- The Samurai (Masterplots II: World Fiction Series)
See Also:
- Add The Samurai to your favorites