Book

Man, John, 1941- author.

Samurai : the last warrior : a history / John Man.

First U.S. edition.

New York, New York : William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2014

©2014

xiii, 321, 16 pages, [16] unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 21 cm

"In Samurai, celebrated author John Man provides a unique and captivating look at their true history, told through the life of one man: Saigo Takamori, known to many as 'the last samurai.' In 1877, Takamori led a rebel army of samurai in a heroic 'last stand' against the Imperial Japanese Army, who sought to end the 'way of the sword' in favor of firearms and modern warfare."--Back cover.

Saigō, Takamori, 1828-1877.

Samurai -- Japan.

Swordplay -- Japan.

Martial arts -- Japan.

Japan -- History -- To 1868.

Japan -- History -- Meiji period, 1868-1912.

"Originally published in slightly different form in the United Kingdom in 2011 by Transworld Publishers."--Title page verso.

Includes "P.S. Insights, interviews & more-- " (16 pages following page 321).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-304) and index.

List of maps -- Preface -- Note on transliteration and dating -- Prologue: Out of the Volcano: -- Way of the warrior: beginnings -- Young life transformed -- Way of the warrior: a short history of swords -- Coming of the Americans -- Way of the warrior: cutting the belly -- New world, new life -- Way of the warrior: Bushido -- Death I Kinko Bay -- Exile, and a new life -- Brief taste of power -- Prisoner -- Into the maelstrom -- Unhappy revolutionary -- Accidental rebel -- Failure at Kumamoto -- Retreat -- Long road to death -- Saigo's last stand -- Transfiguration -- Acknowledgments -- Bibliography -- Photo credits -- Index.

9780062202673 (pbk.)

0062202677 (pbk.)

870336389

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