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  • Gai-Jin

  • The Epic Novel of the Birth of Modern Japan
  • Written by: James Clavell
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 50 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (67 ratings)

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Gai-Jin

Written by: James Clavell
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's Summary

The dynamic epic novel of political upheaval and societal change in late 1800s Japan, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell

This epic novel by master writer James Clavell, loosely based on the Namamugi Incident and Anglo-Satsuma War that took place in the late 1800s, is a richly researched, panoramic view of Japan’s budding relationship with the Western powers, its sweeping societal changes, and the political upheaval that followed.

As Malcolm Struan, the son of Culum and Tess Struan, and a small band of Westerners travel down the Tōkaidō road, they are attacked by two Satsuma samurai, who mortally wound John Canterbury and seriously injure Malcolm, who then finds reprieve in the merchant village of Yokohama after a narrow escape facilitated by the unscathed Angelique.

Angelique Richaud, Malcolm’s penniless but beautiful French companion, is thrown into a world of political intrigue, fierce devotion, unstable family dynamics, blackmail, and secrets as the trading houses battle for supremacy.

With a cast of dynamic and fully recognized characters, Gai-Jin spins a tale of passionate love affairs, devastating loss, intense power struggles, and the fight to survive and thrive in a hostile new land that will leave listeners longing for another foray into Clavell’s extraordinary Asian Saga.

©2015 James Clavell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Gai-Jin

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  • Overall
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Superb

A great read! Very well performed! A sweeping saga that will grip you and make you keep reading,

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

not his best work

story was kind of a let down, I loved shogun and tai-pan, but this was kinda dull.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not his best. Disappointed.

Too many subplots. LONG book. I really struggled to get to the end of story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good

Good book, important link between Tai-Pan and The Noble House, but not as good as those two. A little repetitive, and at times redundant.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Fast paced epic

I read Tai Pan a few years . Absolutely loved it.. This audible follow up is not as compelling, yet enjoyable. Sooooo many Japanese nouns, adjectives, verbs, places and people that a glossary might help to clarify the narrative, allowing the listener to perhaps get more absorbed in Clavell's intent rather than fumbling with the words.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Frustrating

The plot drags, there are more characters than necessary, and they sure don't accomplish much for a James Clavell story. Spent the whole book wanting it to be better.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Compelling and frustrating because it's compelling

Confusing review title I know. This book is 52 hours long, you are constantly waiting for some rising action to turn into a climax but somehow it doesn't. There is some more action closer to the end but the rest of it is basically a character study and an interesting narrative about international diplomacy between the colonial powers in 19th century Japan.

The narration is very well done. There are several French character that are very well narrated (they are all narrated quite well but I was expecting a cringy forced accent, but was pleasantly surprised!). This book should have been about 15 hours long and that would have been excellent. Other reviews say there are too many characters, that's accurate. I should have stopped listening about 20 hours in but the writing was JUST done well enough to keep me hanging on.

People who liked Tai-Pan will not enjoy this nearly as much. That book was balanced between action and character. This book is much closer to something like The Brothers Karasmov by Dostoyevsky in that its 85% character study 5% action, and 10% I don't know what. I will listen to Nobel House because it's well reviewed but will be prepared to refund if the style doesn't revert to the previous two books.

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