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The Japanese

A History in Twenty Lives
By Christopher Harding
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Japanese by Christopher Harding delves into the intricate tapestry of Japan's modern history, exploring key cultural, political, and social changes. It provides a vivid narrative that unpacks the struggles, dreams, and resilience of the Japanese people through the upheavals they faced from the late 19th century to the present day. Harding captures the nation's quest for identity amidst rapid transformation, offering a rich, human-centred portrayal.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3200
Elsewhere:
$3500
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by Japanese culture and history, especially through personal narratives and intimate stories. It offers a unique exploration of Japan's post-war era to present day, uncovering the lives and transformations of its people through diverse perspectives. This narrative might particularly appeal to those interested in understanding how history shapes personal lives and national identities.

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The Japanese

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Two thousand years of Japanese history, told through interconnected portraits of twenty fascinating individuals.

Chris Harding's enormously enjoyable new book distils Japan's long, complex and fascinating history into the stories of twenty remarkable individuals. These vivid and entertaining portraits take the reader from the earliest written accounts of Japan right through to the life of the current empress, Masako. We encounter shamans and warlords, poets and revolutionaries, scientists, artists and adventurers—each offering insights of their own into this extraordinary place.

For anyone new to Japan, The Japanese is the ideal introduction. For anyone already deeply involved with it, this is a book filled with surprises and pleasures.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Japanese by Christopher Harding has been praised for its skilled and ambitious narration, offering an impressive blend of artistic and political insights throughout Japan's history. Critics commend Harding’s ability to bring distant historical figures to life with vivid and insightful descriptions, making the book both a marvellous read and a potential ideal introduction for newcomers to Japan. By incorporating lesser-known individuals into Japan's sweeping historical narrative, Harding provides fresh perspectives that reinvigorate familiar stories, delivering an engaging and informative journey across the Japanese archipelago.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141992280

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 April 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 383g

Pages: 528

Collections

Asian History Biography & Memoir Christopher Harding History & Military Non-Fiction Penguin Books Political Biographies

About the Author

Christopher Harding is the author of the widely praised Japan Story- In Search of a Nation, described by Neil MacGregor as 'Masterly. How much I admired it, what a lot I learned from it and, above all, how very much I enjoyed it'. Harding teaches at the University of Edinburgh and frequently broadcasts on Radio 3 and Radio 4.

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