Sumit RK's Reviews > A History of the Samurai: Legendary Warriors of Japan

For Years, The term ‘Samurai’ has been shrouded in myths and legends. Samurai; A warrior caste that came to rule Japan for centuries, with soldiers who would give their lives based on the mythical code of Bushido (Bushido—"the way of the warrior"—a complex code of conduct embracing ideals of honor and loyalty that continues to govern the Japanese way of life even today)

A History of the Samurai attempts to tell the complete story of Japan's legendary warrior class from the beginning to the end—an epic tale of bravery and honor but also of conspiracies and carnage. The book attempts to separate the real history of the Samurai from the myths and legends and succeeds in it.

The book is a chronological history of Japan from the 11th Century to the 20th century, focusing mainly on the Samurai. Each chapter focuses on a specific person or moment. The book takes a look at some of the greatest warriors in Japanese history including Miyamoto Musashi, Minamoto Yoshitsune, Takeda Shingen, Oda Nobunaga Tomoe Gozen, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and many more. Apart from the history of the Samurai, the book also explores some forgotten chapters in Japanese history like the Japanese invasions of Korea, Japanese missions to Europe, and Japanese relations to European powers.

The book traces the fascinating story of the rise and fall of these enigmatic warriors throughout Japanese history. The book is illustrated with several rare photos and documents which only enrich the book. At the end of the book, a complete bibliography, a chronology of Japan, a list of emperors are also included.

Overall, the book does a good job. Japanese history is a lot complex, given the several clans and factions, so it may still prove difficult to grasp it all. The book does a stellar job in narrating the history of Japan through the context of its Samurai class. If you are interested in Japan and its history, this book is a great read.

Many thanks to the publishers Tuttle Publishing and Edelweiss for the ARC.