#BookReview – The Shortest History of Japan by @LesleyDowner | @oldstpublishing

‘Japan is a country of islands, strung like a necklace around the Asian mainland…‘

[ About The Shortest History of Japan ]

Ever since US Commodore Matthew Perry forced Japan to open its borders in 1853, the culture of this remarkable and distant archipelago has enriched western life. At the same time the country has embraced foreign institutions from baseball to barber shops. Yet for centuries under the rule of the shoguns, the islands were largely sealed off from the outside world. In charting a course between openness and insularity, Japan has found a way to become ultra-modern while breathing new life into its own unique traditions.

In The Shortest History of Japan, Lesley Downer brings an expert storyteller’s eye to the sweep of Japanese history. Here are the emperors and warlords, the samurai and women warriors, the merchants and geisha who shaped this extraordinary modern society.

From the hunter-gatherers who fashioned the world’s first pots to the novel-writing ladies of the eleventh-century Heian court, from the devastation of Hiroshima to today’s economic and cultural powerhouse, this is an indispensable, riveting history of the land of the rising sun.

[ My Review ]

The Shortest History of Japan by Lesley Downer publishes September 10th with Old Street Publishing and has understandably received great acclaim, with Library Journal describing it as ‘a delightful and illuminating read… Downer’s book covers prehistoric times through the present-day… Essential reading for both general audiences and scholars’. Back in 2016 I read The Shogun’s Queen by Lesley Downer and was absolutely blown away by the level of detail and how immersive a reading experience it was. Based on a true story, with most of the characters being real, Lesley Downer wove fact and fiction creating an exquisite piece of work.

In The Shortest History of Japan Lesley Downer takes the reader on an extraordinary journey to Japan, through the annals of time, from approximately 400BCE right up to the present day in less than 300 pages. It’s a testament to her writing that she has captured so much information in such a concise and educational manner, introducing the reader to this country that has the most turbulent and fascinating story to tell across the centuries.

The book is divided into thirteen clearly defined chapters as we travel through the ages. These chapters are intertwined with maps depicting Japan and little gems of stories highlighting certain historical events, people and traditions. There are many many names littered throughout this book and, as a relative newcomer to Japanese history, the majority were unfamiliar to me, but their stories have a fairy-tale quality which I thoroughly enjoyed (and I don’t mean Disney!). Warriors, emperors, shoguns and samurai were fearless in battle with many surviving for only a brief time as they fought off dangerous enemies protecting what they believed in. There was a clear division in Japanese society between the haves and the have-nots and over the centuries this caused much tension and unrest. As Japan fought to maintain its identity blocking any western influence, it also battled internally with maintaining peace and stability.

Lesley Downer has written a compelling book that is well-paced and very engaging. She explores the vastness of Japanese history incorporating their complex feudal period, the Meiji Restoration, Abenomics and more. For anyone with little or no prior knowledge of Japan’s history, Lesley Downer’s explanations, with clear and concise summaries, allow the reader to grasp the key events and figures that have shaped this fascinating nation. Understanding how the past influences contemporary culture and society helps readers appreciate the staggering shifts and social changes that have occurred within Japan across generations.

The Shortest History of Japan is an outstanding resource with a narrative that is enriched by very vivid descriptions and a wealth of information that is sure to delight all with a curiosity to know more about this island nation of legends and contrasts. A literary gem, The Shortest History of Japan, is an enlightening and meticulously researched book, one that’s accessible to all and is an exceptional reading experience.

**Thank you to Lesley Downer and to Old Street Publishing for a copy of The Shortest History of Japan in exchange for my honest review.

[ Bio ]

Lesley Downer is an author, journalist and Japan specialist. She has written four historical novels set in Japan and several bestselling works of non-fiction, including Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World and The Brothers: The Saga of the Richest Family in Japan, a New York Times Book of the Year. She lives between London, Tokyo and New York.

X ~ @LesleyDowner