'Gai-Jin' by James Clavell, 1993
For plot info etc see here.
Although this novel is chronologically the third in the Asian Saga it was Clavell's final novel. It is rather sombre and pessimistic in tone throughout. Given that it is based loosely on the Anglo-Satsuma war, and that war is impending throughout, its doomladen atmosphere is understandable. However, this made it a hard book to like initially. It is as if Clavell's love affair with Japanese culture is over. He subtly portrays how European, and increasingly American, concepts of mercantilism, profit and business have infected Japanese culture, to the detriment of all that he so clearly admired in the other novels. It feels as if he has become somewhat bitter about western influences....
This is a good story and is as well written as his other novels. The story moves along quite rapidly. I liked how the character of Tess Struan is so overshadowing, but she never actually appears! Much of the story is tinged with sadness and loss - the world is changing and many are being left behind. The values of bushido are all but lost and where they do survive are increasingly irrelevant in the face of overwhelming capitalism.
I didn't find this as easy a read as the other novels mainly, I think, because of the pessimism throughout. There is a rather harrowing rape scene early on which actually made me feel a bit ill; partly because the perpetrator is a samurai. This would have been unthinkable in 'Shogun'!
I would recommend this to those who have enjoyed other novels in the Asian Saga, but I wouldn't start with this one!
Although this novel is chronologically the third in the Asian Saga it was Clavell's final novel. It is rather sombre and pessimistic in tone throughout. Given that it is based loosely on the Anglo-Satsuma war, and that war is impending throughout, its doomladen atmosphere is understandable. However, this made it a hard book to like initially. It is as if Clavell's love affair with Japanese culture is over. He subtly portrays how European, and increasingly American, concepts of mercantilism, profit and business have infected Japanese culture, to the detriment of all that he so clearly admired in the other novels. It feels as if he has become somewhat bitter about western influences....
This is a good story and is as well written as his other novels. The story moves along quite rapidly. I liked how the character of Tess Struan is so overshadowing, but she never actually appears! Much of the story is tinged with sadness and loss - the world is changing and many are being left behind. The values of bushido are all but lost and where they do survive are increasingly irrelevant in the face of overwhelming capitalism.
I didn't find this as easy a read as the other novels mainly, I think, because of the pessimism throughout. There is a rather harrowing rape scene early on which actually made me feel a bit ill; partly because the perpetrator is a samurai. This would have been unthinkable in 'Shogun'!
I would recommend this to those who have enjoyed other novels in the Asian Saga, but I wouldn't start with this one!
Labels: history, james clavell, japan
posted by Social Work Dad at 2:37 AM
2 Comments:
The historical setting of "Gai-Jin" was 20 years following "Tai-Pan." I would have referred to it as chronologically the second in the Asian Saga.
Please note page 1000, "singing and heard to say, as though it was part of the country song, 'Someone's betrayed someone.'"
Did Mr Clavell slip into this 1862 setting a reference to a contemporary U S country & western song? Smacks of "Somebody's Done Somebody Wrong Song."
OF COURSE. It was the THIRD. Never mind.
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