Shogun

Historical Context and Significance

«Shogun» is a novel by American author James Clavell, first published in 1975, and is the first book in the Asian Saga series. The novel is set in early 17th century Japan and is based on the real-life arrival of English navigator William Adams in Japan, who served as the prototype for the main character, Pilot John Blackthorne. The book had a significant impact on Western interest in Japanese culture and history, expanding knowledge of the samurai code and the political and social structures of the time. «Shogun» became a bestseller, was translated into numerous languages, and was adapted into a television miniseries in 1980, further solidifying its significance and popularizing Japanese history worldwide.