Author:John Man
The name 'Samurai' is synonymous with the ultimate warrior. With their elaborate armour, fierce swordsmanship and code of honour, the samurai have become iconic figures whose influence can still be felt today . From Kurosawa's epic Seven Samurai to the figure of Darth Vader in Star Wars, to Manga comics and video games, the figure of the fighting samurai still inspires us today. In John Man's new book we discover the truth behind the legend.
From his birth in the shadow of the great volcano Sakurajima, to his glorious death by ritual suicide and disembowelment, Saigo Takamori was the ultimate Samurai leader. His fall brought about the end of hundreds of years of Samurai tradition and in many ways marks the birth of modern Japan. Saigo was a man trapped by paradox: a faithful servant to the emperor, and yet a leader of rebel troops; a mighty Samurai warrior, and also a master of Chinese poetry. His life, and ultimately his death, offer a window into the hundreds of years of culture and tradition that defined the samurai.
Hilarious and tragic
—— London CyclistA naturalist who can unfurl a sentence with the breathless ease of a master angler, a writer whose ideas and reach far transcend the physical region he explores
—— The New York Times Book Review[Mountains of the Mind is] a distinguished book that jolted my heart. Adventurous, passionate, intensely romantic . . . fizzes with insights
—— Roger DeakinA new naturalist to set beside the classics in our literature
—— Evening StandardThe Old Ways confirms Robert Macfarlane's reputation as one of the most eloquent and observant of contemporary writers about nature
—— Scotland on SundayMacfarlane relishes wild, as well as old, places. He writes about both beautifully . . . I love to read Macfarlane
—— Financial TimesRead this and it will be impossible to take an unremarkable walk again
—— MetroQuirky, warped, enthusiastic and funny
—— Chris BoardmanTour history is blended with anecdotes revealing the personalities and quirks of professional cycling
—— Times Higher Educational SupplementGenuinely funny
—— Richard WilliamsMade me chuckle
—— Mark CavendishHilarious behind-the-scenes anecdotes
—— Glasgow HeraldAn irreverent and funny take on cycling’s biggest race from a man who has seen it up close every year since 2003
—— Lesley McDowell , Glasgow HeraldI found his behind-the-scenes look at the famous race both highly amusing and telling in equal measure
—— Johann Lamont , Scotland on SundayCycling at its best is fiercely cosmopolitan and internationalist, Boulting provides the kind of commentary the sport deserves, and will need if it is to fulfil its undoubted potential to reach out and grow
—— Mark Perryman , The Huffington PostAn entertaining read, rich in nostalgia and reminiscent of Nick Hornby's Fever Pitch, this offers an insight into the power of obsession and how the beautiful game has changed. Moving and amusing
—— Sport magazine
zpostcode
Recruit
weather
mreligion
Yellowpages
sport
constellation
shopping
name
game
directory
literature
Word
tour
furnish
Lottery
tftnews
lyrics
News
digital
car
dir
Edu
Finance
