Synopses & Reviews
Kyoto in the twelfth century was a magnificent city, but crime, disorder, and lust were rampant. The people were abused by the nobility, while the armed Buddhist monks terrorized court and commoner alike. In despair, the Emperor called upon the Heike and Genji clans to quell civil disturbances. Although the clans succeeded, they quarreled over the spoils of war and plunged the country into a century of warfare.This novel describes the rise to power of Kiyomori of the Heike clan during this turbulent time. From a youth sunk in poverty, Kiyomori eventually rose to become the Emperor's Chief Councillor. Although he was a gentle, enlightened man, he left a trail of bloodshed and ruin in his wake. The strange twists of Kiyomori's fate are the core of this epic novel.The Heike Story is a modern translation of a Japanese classic. Its exotic atmosphere, narrative power, pageantry, and poetry will enthrall English readers and provide an entertaining introduction to an important source of Japanese culture.
Synopsis
The Heike Story is a modern translation of a Japanese classic. Its exotic atmosphere, narrative power, pageantry and poetry will enthrall readers and provide an entertaining introduction to an important source of Japanese culture. This new edition features a foreword by Dr. Davinder Bhowmik that introduces this celebrated author and book to modern readers.
Synopsis
An enthralling and entertaining introduction to the exotic atmosphere, narrative power, pageantry and poetry of Kyoto in the twelfth century.
About the Author
Although Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962) received little more than a primary education, in his lifetime he authored some 80 novels and over 180 short stories. Among his best-selling novels are Mushashi and Way of the Samurai. Credited with greatly elevating popular fiction, Yoshikawa was the first writer of such work to be awarded the Order of Culture.