Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 1

Clouds above the Hill is one of the best-selling novels ever in Japan, and is now translated into English for the first time. An epic portrait of Japan in crisis, it combines graphic military history and highly readable fiction to depict an aspiring nation modernizing at breakneck speed. Best-selling author Shiba Ryōtarō devoted an entire decade of his life to this extraordinary blockbuster, which features Japan's emerging onto the world stage by the early years of the twentieth century. Volume I describes the growth of Japan’s fledgling Meiji state, a major "character" in the novel. We are also introduced to our three heroes, born into obscurity, the brothers Akiyama Yoshifuru and Akiyama Saneyuki, who will go on to play important roles in the Japanese Army and Navy, and the poet Masaoka Shiki, who will spend much of his short life trying to establish the haiku as a respected poetic form. Anyone curious as to how the "tiny, rising nation of Japan" was able to fight so fiercely for its survival should look no further. Clouds above the Hill is an exciting, human portrait of a modernizing nation that goes to war and thereby stakes its very existence on a desperate bid for glory in East Asia.

Ryōtarō, Shiba

Reference

Routledge

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 2

Clouds above the Hill is one of the best-selling novels ever in Japan, and is now translated into English for the first time. An epic portrait of Japan in crisis, it combines graphic military history and highly readable fiction to depict an aspiring nation modernizing at breakneck speed. Best-selling author Shiba Ryōtarō devoted an entire decade of his life to this extraordinary blockbuster, which features Japan's emerging onto the world stage by the early years of the twentieth century. In Volume II, Meiji Japan is on a collision course with Russia, as Russian troops stationed in Manchuria ignore repeated calls to withdraw. Admiral Tōgō leads a blockade and subsequent skirmish at the strategically vital and heavily fortified Port Arthur, whilst Yoshifuru’s cavalry in Manchuria maneuvers for position as it approaches the Russian Army lines. The two armies clash at the battle of Liaoyang, where Japan seals a victory which shocks the world. Anyone curious as to how the "tiny, rising nation of Japan" was able to fight so fiercely for its survival should look no further. Clouds above the Hill is an exciting, human portrait of a modernizing nation that goes to war and thereby stakes its very existence on a desperate bid for glory in East Asia.

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 3

Clouds above the Hill, a long-time best-selling novel in Japan, is now translated into English for the first time. An epic portrait of Japan in crisis, it combines graphic military history and highly readable fiction to depict an aspiring nation modernizing at breakneck speed. Acclaimed author Shiba Ryōtarō devoted an entire decade of his life to this extraordinary blockbuster, which features Japan's emergence onto the world stage by the early years of the 20th century. Volume three finds Admiral Tōgō continuing his blockade of Port Arthur. Meanwhile, a Japanese land offensive gains control of the high ground overlooking the bay as the Russians at last call for a ceasefire. However, on the banks of the Shaho River, the Japanese lines are stretched, but the Russian General Kuropatkin makes a decision to flank the troops to the left and in doing so encounters Akiyama Yoshifuru’s cavalry. Anyone curious as to how the "tiny, rising nation of Japan" was able to fight so fiercely for its survival should look no further. Clouds above the Hill is an exciting, human portrait of a modernizing nation that goes to war and thereby stakes its very existence on a desperate bid for glory in East Asia.

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 4

Clouds above the Hill is the best-selling novel ever in Japan, and is now translated into English for the first time. An epic portrait of Japan in crisis, it combines graphic military history and highly readable fiction to depict an aspiring nation modernizing at breakneck speed. Best-selling author Shiba Ryōtarō devoted an entire decade of his life to this extraordinary blockbuster, which features Japan's emerging onto the world stage by the early years of the 20th century. Volume IV begins with the dramatic battle of Mukden where Akiyama Yoshifuru’s cavalry play a major part in the action against the Cossacks. Meanwhile, Admiral Tōgō’s fleet sail to the Tsushima strait to intercept the Baltic Fleet en route to Vladivostok. With the help of Akiyama Saneyuki’s strategies, the Baltic Fleet is totally destroyed and the Japanese fleet make a triumphant return to Yokohama. Anyone curious as to how the "tiny, rising nation of Japan" was able to fight so fiercely for its survival should look no further. Clouds above the Hill is an exciting, human portrait of a modernizing nation that goes to war and thereby stakes its very existence on a desperate bid for glory in East Asia.

Clouds above the Hill is one of the best-selling novels ever in Japan, and is now translated into English for the first time. An epic portrait of Japan in crisis, it combines graphic military history and highly readable fiction to depict an aspiring nation modernizing at breakneck speed. Best-selling author Shiba Ryōtarō devoted an entire decade of his life to this extraordinary blockbuster, which features Japan's emerging onto the world stage by the early years of the twentieth century. Volume I describes the growth of Japan’s fledgling Meiji state, a major "character" in the novel. We are also introduced to our three heroes, born into obscurity, the brothers Akiyama Yoshifuru and Akiyama Saneyuki, who will go on to play important roles in the Japanese Army and Navy, and the poet Masaoka Shiki, who will spend much of his short life trying to establish the haiku as a respected poetic form. Anyone curious as to how the "tiny, rising nation of Japan" was able to fight so fiercely for its survival should look no further. Clouds above the Hill is an exciting, human portrait of a modernizing nation that goes to war and thereby stakes its very existence on a desperate bid for glory in East Asia.

Tokugawa Yoshinobu, born in 1837, came to power thirty years later as the fifteenth successor to the Tokugawa shogunate. Though his ancestral claim and his will to become a shogun were never as powerful as those of his enemies, he far outclassed them. Coming to power just as the Tokugawa regime was suffering the worst military defeat in its history, Yoshinobu strongly suspected that the rule of the Tokugawa -- the third and longest lived of Japan's three warrior governments -- was swiftly becoming an anachronism. During a year of frenetic activity, he overhauled the military systems, reorganized the civil administration, promoted industrial development, and expanded foreign intercourse, all with the farsighted aim of creating a unified Japan, Pro-imperial interests, alarmed by these reforms, moved against him, precipitating the Boshin Civil War and the final defeat of the shogunal armies. To the surprise of his enemies, he capitulated, retiring to Mito to live quietly for the rest of his life studying the new art of photography.

The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu

Literature & Fiction

Contemporary

Kodansha Amer Inc

Kukai the Universal: Scenes from His Life (Stone Bridge Classics)

History

Asia

Stone Bridge Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ryōtarō, Shiba. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Ryōtarō, Shiba

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Ryōtarō, Shiba. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 1

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 2

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 3

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 4

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 1

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 2

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 3

Clouds above the Hill: A Historical Novel of the Russo-Japanese War, Volume 4

The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu

Kukai the Universal: Scenes from His Life (Stone Bridge Classics)