ShōgunShōgun
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1600, John Blackthorne, an English pilot, is shipwrecked in Japan, a country almost no Englishman has seen, where the Portuguese and their Jesuit priests hold a trade monopoly. He's taken prisoner and becomes a pawn in the struggle between Lord Toranaga, a brilliant warlord, and his rivals for control of the country. Guided by Mariko, a noblewoman who becomes his translator, he slowly learns the language and customs of a culture that first horrifies and then transforms him.
Why it's worth reading
It was a pick on the BBC's Big Read, has sold millions of copies and has been adapted twice, most recently as an Emmy-winning FX series. It's one of the great historical page-turners.
You'll love it if you liked
Noble House
The Pillars of the Earth
OutlanderGood to know
It's over 1,100 pages, with violence and sexual content. Clavell takes liberties with history.
By the numbers
- Readers98 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller70 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #21 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #66 of the 762 classics we rank
- #200 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving
More by James Clavell
If you like this, read next
War and Peace
Anna Karenina
Ragtime
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book Thief
The Cider House RulesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Shōgun worth reading?
Yes. It was a pick on the BBC's Big Read, has sold millions of copies and has been adapted twice, most recently as an Emmy-winning FX series. It ranks #200 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 83.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Shōgun about?
In 1600, John Blackthorne, an English pilot, is shipwrecked in Japan, a country almost no Englishman has seen, where the Portuguese and their Jesuit priests hold a trade monopoly. He's taken prisoner and becomes a pawn in the struggle between Lord Toranaga, a brilliant warlord, and his rivals for control of the country. Guided by Mariko, a noblewoman who becomes his translator, he slowly learns the language and customs of a culture that first horrifies and then transforms him.
How long does it take to read Shōgun?
About 28 hours (1125 pages), or about 8 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Shōgun?
If you liked it, try Noble House by James Clavell, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett or Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.