Jonathan Clements (1) (1971–)

22. A Brief History of Japan: Samurai, Shogun and Zen: The Extraordinary Story of the Land of the Rising Sun by Jonathan Clements
reader: Julian Elfer
OPD: 2017
format: 8:41 audible audiobook (304 pages in paperback)
acquired: audible loan listened: Apr 7-16
rating: 3½
genre/style: History theme: random audio
locations: Japan
about the author: A British author and scriptwriter, born in Leigh on Sea, Essex in 1971

Clements tells the reader up front that he really likes relaying quirky historical oddities, and the reader should take note. He's not an ideal fit for a brief history. Making history brief means making effective accurate clear summations of various things you want to cover. (This is actually very difficult.) The flip side is to remove the excess words, but still pile details on details in a compressed rapid form, uncooked, if you like. Clements trends a little too much to the latter form for my tastes, and it made listening challenging.

I really had trouble following the medieval and semi-feudal Japan because it's very complicated and I lost Clements's points in a confusion of names and factions and unfamiliar sounds. What I got was the power was always obscured, the Japanese emperor was traditionally a figurehead, often very young, and often the emperor would retire in an effort to establish real power, with mixed success. Shoguns were important, until they weren't. Samari had a long history of no practical military value because no one ever attacked Japan. It was largely unified enough and after the Mongol rulers of China failed in their rather poor marine invasion efforts, China never gave it another go. But I guess Japan was always ready.

I was entertained by getting a history of Edo/Tokyo, sushi, and kabuki theatre, and learning that the west and the US regret the constitutional disarming of Japan (although the constitution allows for finagling with "defense" forces). And I knew how fast Japan modernized, much faster than the other eastern countries (although China clearly tried). It took roughly 60 years from Japan's opening to its defeat of Russia. But I didn't realize how important the Korean War was to Japan's revitalization, funding the foundations of its post-war economic boom.

Anyway, while I hope there is a better brief history out there, I'm sure any readers will find something they like here.

2024
https://www.librarything.com/topic/358760#8515101… (plus d'informations)

CONTENTS

1. List of Illustrations - vii
2. Preface and Acknowledgements - pag. ix

3. Introduction: Britannia Deserta - The Dark Ages - pag. 1
4. Songs of the Valkyries - Myths and Legends of Scandinavia - pag. 15
5. Fury of the Northmen - From the First Raids to Harald Bluetooth - pag. 48
6. Great Heathen Hosts - Highlands, Islands, Ireland and England - pag. 66
7. Brother Shall Fight Brother - Harald Fairhair and Sons - pag. 81
8. The Road East - Vikings, Russians and Varangians - pag. 98
9. Advent of the White Christ - From Harald Greycloak of Olaf Crowbone - pag. 116
10. Beyond the Edhe of the World - Iceland, Greenland and Vinland - pag. 137
11. London Bridge is Falling Down - From Svein Forkbeard of Olaf the Stout - pag. 160
12. The Thunderbolt of the North - The Life and Legends of Halard the Ruthless - pag. 186
13. Children of Thor - One Thousand Year Later - pag. 214

14. Appendix: Rulers during the Viking Age - pag. 230
15. Family Trees - pag. 233
16. Maps - pag. 239
17. Further Reading - pag. 242

18. Refereces - pag. 249
19. Index - pag. 263… (plus d'informations)