“The Shortest History of Japan” by Lesley Downer
It is quite amazing that soon after it was announced that the Indian economy had surpassed the Japanese economy (a feat that has been unimaginable for decades!),Pan Macmillan India sent a copy of their latest title: The Shortest History of Japan by Lesley Downer. It is part of a magnificent series that is being published over a long stretch of time.
A riveting history of Japan – an island nation forged by isolation, shaped by influence and bound by tradition
Zen, haiku, martial arts, sushi, anime, manga, video games and the Ikigai philosophy – many aspects of Japanese society influenced cultures across the world. But where did it all begin? How did Japan’s unique traditions, philosophies, and aesthetics come to be?
This book takes us on a sweeping journey through the island nation’s rich and fascinating history – from its prehistoric roots in 14,500 BCE to the bustling, high-tech nation of today. It explores the myth of emperors descended from the Sun Goddess, the rise and fall of samurai warlords, the elegance of court ladies and geishas, the resilience of women warriors and rulers, and the pragmatism of its merchants and world-renowned businessmen who moulded modern Japan.
From the isolationist policies of the Tokugawa shoguns to the rapid Westernization of the Meiji era, Japan has skillfully balanced tradition and transformation. The island nation, shaped like a necklace along Asia’s coast, used the sea as a shield against invasion, helping protect its culture even as it was impacted by foreign influences.
Combining engaging storytelling and historical insight, Lesley Downer brings to life the people, power struggles, philosophies and art that forged one of the world’s most fascinating civilizations.
Lesley Downer is an author, journalist and historian. She has written four novels, The Shogun Quartet, set in the glittering world of nineteenth-century Japan. She has also written several works of non-fiction, including Geisha: The Remarkable Truth Behind the Fiction and The Brothers: The Hidden World of Japan’s Richest Family, which was chosen as a New York Times Book of the Year. She lives in London with her husband, the author Arthur I. Miller.
13 June 2025
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