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The Pure Land
The year is 1858. Thomas Glover is a restless young man with dreams of escaping Aberdeen. Abandoning his childhood sweetheart, he takes a posting as a trader in Japan. Within ten years he amasses a great fortune, learns the ways of the samurai and helps overthrow the Shogun - a rapid rise from lowly shipping clerk to millionaire industrialist. Yet behind Glover's astonishing success lies a man cut to the heart. His love affair with a courtesan - a woman who, unknown to him, would bear him the son for which he had always longed - would form a tragedy so dramatic as to be immortalized in the story of Madame Butterfly.
The Pure Land relives in fiction the arc of Glover's true-life rise and fall, and forges a 100-year saga that culminates in the annihilation of Nagasaki in 1945.
The Pure Land relives in fiction the arc of Glover's true-life rise and fall, and forges a 100-year saga that culminates in the annihilation of Nagasaki in 1945.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
83 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Alan Spence
57 books33 followersAlan Spence (born 1947) is a Scottish writer and is Professor in Creative Writing at the University of Aberdeen, where he is also artistic director of the annual WORD Festival. He was born in Glasgow, and much of his work is set in the city.
Spence is an award-winning poet and playwright, novelist and short-story writer. His first work was the collection of short stories Its Colours They are Fine, first published in 1977. This was followed by two plays, Sailmaker in 1982 and Space Invaders in 1983. The novel The Magic Flute appeared in 1990 along with his first book of poetry, Glasgow Zen. In 1991, another of his plays, Changed Days, was published before a brief hiatus. He returned in 1996 with Stone Garden, another collection of short stories. In 2006, The Pure Land, a historical novel set in Japan, was published by Canongate Books, and is based on the life of Thomas Blake Glover who is immortalised in the story of Madame Butterfly.
Spence is an award-winning poet and playwright, novelist and short-story writer. His first work was the collection of short stories Its Colours They are Fine, first published in 1977. This was followed by two plays, Sailmaker in 1982 and Space Invaders in 1983. The novel The Magic Flute appeared in 1990 along with his first book of poetry, Glasgow Zen. In 1991, another of his plays, Changed Days, was published before a brief hiatus. He returned in 1996 with Stone Garden, another collection of short stories. In 2006, The Pure Land, a historical novel set in Japan, was published by Canongate Books, and is based on the life of Thomas Blake Glover who is immortalised in the story of Madame Butterfly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 17, 2018
Oh boy. As soon as I finish with this review, I'll go and improve my rating for "Shogun"... Mr Clavell, I'm sorry for one star. At least your book has a story, and its style is something more than just separating gerunds with commas.
The praises on the cover should've rung the bell.
"A page-turner of the first order"? It's a dreadful record of the life of Thomas Glover, a trader from Aberdeen, who went to Japan and by basically selling arms and opium (oh and tea, and some other stuff) established connections with the would-be Meiji statesmen like Ito Hirobumi. Not even for one moment is the reader unsure of the outcome of Glover's boring antics, from tumbling on the grass with his childhood sweetheart to smuggling rebellious samurai into England. Everything goes super smooth. Here's the pattern:
GLOVER: Hey guys, it's a new chapter! I'm gonna do this really daft thing. You with me? Whatever, I don't care.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING FOREIGNERS: Tom, it's too risky! The country is so mysterious!... Ah, but you are this speshul person. Take care, see you on Friday.
THE FRENCH: Mon Dieu! What a faux pas! How typically repulsive! We're going to stalk you, you realize that?
GOOD SAMURAI: You in Japan. Is still hostile territory. You gaijin but like samurai. Hai.
BAD SAMURAI: (grunt)
GLOVER: Hai, so desu! Shogun nanka kuso kurae! Daimyo nanka kuso kurae! Dozo! Kanpai! (runs from the bad samurai and the French, goes home, takes a bath, counts money)
JAPANESE WOMEN: Irasshaimase!
I guess the above is sort of a spoiler, but it's based on a true-life story anyway, so we all knew he wasn't gonna croak before his time, right?
"Not merely an engaging and vivid historical novel, but also a meditative work of art that is as finely honed as a Samurai's sword." There is no sense of period, no atmosphere, all characters other than Glover are just pale sketches, and the dude is not any more compelling, just a puppet, doing random things to get from the beginning of the story to the end, without any reflection whatsoever about people or things. There is nothing meditative about the book, unless by "meditative" they mean really "inducing to put it down and meditate, looking at the wall or other passengers on the train".
"Rattles along, grounded in historical research and filled with emotional truths." The historical research is - besides some bare facts, like attacks on foreigners, or the bombing of Shimonoseki - just funny. I'm going to write some of it down because I got absolutely zero satisfaction from this book, at least I'll have some fun now. In the order of appearance.
- The madam of the brothel Sakura is sometimes referred to as okami, which is sort of correct (not in case of a brothel, but let's not be THAT picky), and sometimes as okama, which is a modern Japanese slang for a male homosexual.
- One of Glover's employees is named Nakajimo. Seeing that Sakamoto Ryoma's (who was a real person) name is spelled "Ryomo", it seems to be a case of bad handwriting.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine "unclasps" her hair before sex. There are numerous references to men running their hands through women's hair. One look at the hairstyles of the period would make you understand that it was impossible.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine becomes his wife. A Buddhist monk from the nearby temple "chants a mantra" and "bestows a blessing" (a Christian minister participates in the fun too). Well, too bad that the marriage ceremony would be a shinto one.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine turns out to be a daughter of a high-standing samurai in the service of the lord of Satsuma. Which helps Glover to establish ties with his father-in-law first, and the lord of Satsuma later. Glover is easily accepted as a son-in-law despite the fact that a woman from a family of such importance a) wouldn't have to be sold to a brothel, b) would have been sold to a brothel as a punishment c) upon having been sold to a brothel as a result of a transgression on her part, she would have ceased to be a member of the family.
- When Glover meets Ito Hirobumi (the first prime minister of Japan), the latter introduces himself as, well, Ito Hirobumi. But his name was different at that time; he renamed himself "Hirobumi" only in the 4th year of Meiji.
- The favorite phrase of Glover's is Hai, so desu, which is way too modern and too polite - and yes, too feminine - to have been used by a would-be samurai dude in the middle of the 19th century. And that after Glover was ridiculed for using another feminine word (which was only in dialect).
- Japanese is sometimes correct, sometimes... Hidden Christians were called kakure Kirishitan, not just kakure.The coin's name is ichibu, not itzibu. Irasshaimase is used instead of okaerinasai. There are more but I'm in a hurry.
- There is no ordinary tea preparing in the book, it's always a full-blown tea ceremony, always in beautiful earthenware, always thick green. By the way, foreigners are ridiculing Japanese green tea, even though green tea WAS drunk in the West at that time.
- Of course there are tables in ordinary Japanese houses... and stinky indoor toilets O.o. I don't know where that one has come from.
And all these would be totally (all right not totally, but sort of possible to bear) okay with me, had the story been entertaining! But no! The guy is a total jerk. He deals in arms, in opium, abandons pregnant women, steals children. Still, his life story could have been entertaining. But he is a boring would-be manly dude who does everything just as every other colonist dude before him did, AND HAS NO PURPOSE IN LIFE other than to be in this book.
Now to improve Shogun's rating.
The praises on the cover should've rung the bell.
"A page-turner of the first order"? It's a dreadful record of the life of Thomas Glover, a trader from Aberdeen, who went to Japan and by basically selling arms and opium (oh and tea, and some other stuff) established connections with the would-be Meiji statesmen like Ito Hirobumi. Not even for one moment is the reader unsure of the outcome of Glover's boring antics, from tumbling on the grass with his childhood sweetheart to smuggling rebellious samurai into England. Everything goes super smooth. Here's the pattern:
GLOVER: Hey guys, it's a new chapter! I'm gonna do this really daft thing. You with me? Whatever, I don't care.
ENGLISH-SPEAKING FOREIGNERS: Tom, it's too risky! The country is so mysterious!... Ah, but you are this speshul person. Take care, see you on Friday.
THE FRENCH: Mon Dieu! What a faux pas! How typically repulsive! We're going to stalk you, you realize that?
GOOD SAMURAI: You in Japan. Is still hostile territory. You gaijin but like samurai. Hai.
BAD SAMURAI: (grunt)
GLOVER: Hai, so desu! Shogun nanka kuso kurae! Daimyo nanka kuso kurae! Dozo! Kanpai! (runs from the bad samurai and the French, goes home, takes a bath, counts money)
JAPANESE WOMEN: Irasshaimase!
I guess the above is sort of a spoiler, but it's based on a true-life story anyway, so we all knew he wasn't gonna croak before his time, right?
"Not merely an engaging and vivid historical novel, but also a meditative work of art that is as finely honed as a Samurai's sword." There is no sense of period, no atmosphere, all characters other than Glover are just pale sketches, and the dude is not any more compelling, just a puppet, doing random things to get from the beginning of the story to the end, without any reflection whatsoever about people or things. There is nothing meditative about the book, unless by "meditative" they mean really "inducing to put it down and meditate, looking at the wall or other passengers on the train".
"Rattles along, grounded in historical research and filled with emotional truths." The historical research is - besides some bare facts, like attacks on foreigners, or the bombing of Shimonoseki - just funny. I'm going to write some of it down because I got absolutely zero satisfaction from this book, at least I'll have some fun now. In the order of appearance.
- The madam of the brothel Sakura is sometimes referred to as okami, which is sort of correct (not in case of a brothel, but let's not be THAT picky), and sometimes as okama, which is a modern Japanese slang for a male homosexual.
- One of Glover's employees is named Nakajimo. Seeing that Sakamoto Ryoma's (who was a real person) name is spelled "Ryomo", it seems to be a case of bad handwriting.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine "unclasps" her hair before sex. There are numerous references to men running their hands through women's hair. One look at the hairstyles of the period would make you understand that it was impossible.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine becomes his wife. A Buddhist monk from the nearby temple "chants a mantra" and "bestows a blessing" (a Christian minister participates in the fun too). Well, too bad that the marriage ceremony would be a shinto one.
- The woman Glover purchases as his concubine turns out to be a daughter of a high-standing samurai in the service of the lord of Satsuma. Which helps Glover to establish ties with his father-in-law first, and the lord of Satsuma later. Glover is easily accepted as a son-in-law despite the fact that a woman from a family of such importance a) wouldn't have to be sold to a brothel, b) would have been sold to a brothel as a punishment c) upon having been sold to a brothel as a result of a transgression on her part, she would have ceased to be a member of the family.
- When Glover meets Ito Hirobumi (the first prime minister of Japan), the latter introduces himself as, well, Ito Hirobumi. But his name was different at that time; he renamed himself "Hirobumi" only in the 4th year of Meiji.
- The favorite phrase of Glover's is Hai, so desu, which is way too modern and too polite - and yes, too feminine - to have been used by a would-be samurai dude in the middle of the 19th century. And that after Glover was ridiculed for using another feminine word (which was only in dialect).
- Japanese is sometimes correct, sometimes... Hidden Christians were called kakure Kirishitan, not just kakure.The coin's name is ichibu, not itzibu. Irasshaimase is used instead of okaerinasai. There are more but I'm in a hurry.
- There is no ordinary tea preparing in the book, it's always a full-blown tea ceremony, always in beautiful earthenware, always thick green. By the way, foreigners are ridiculing Japanese green tea, even though green tea WAS drunk in the West at that time.
- Of course there are tables in ordinary Japanese houses... and stinky indoor toilets O.o. I don't know where that one has come from.
And all these would be totally (all right not totally, but sort of possible to bear) okay with me, had the story been entertaining! But no! The guy is a total jerk. He deals in arms, in opium, abandons pregnant women, steals children. Still, his life story could have been entertaining. But he is a boring would-be manly dude who does everything just as every other colonist dude before him did, AND HAS NO PURPOSE IN LIFE other than to be in this book.
Now to improve Shogun's rating.
April 18, 2020
I thought I'd add the following. The book is about Thomas Blake Glover, born (1838-1911)and raised in Aberdeen, Scotland. When he was only 21 he was employed by Jardine Matheson in the tea trade and moved to Nagasaki. If one wants a detailed information of his accomplishments in Japan one can read Wikepedia, this book or, as I did, both. If one reads Wikepedia this man and his life does not come alive. The book does exactly this and more. Some say the opera Madame Butterfly is based on his Japanese wife, but this is disputed.
I really came to care for the main characters, Guraba (Glover's Japanese nickname), the Japanese women in his life, several of his Japanese friends and even his enemies. I prefer to call Glover Guruba because in spirit he became more Japanese than Scottish. Most foreigners were in Japan for money or colonial pursuits. Don't get me wrong, Guraba also wanted to make money. He made a fortune, lost it and made another fortune! Through hard work and imaginative ideas. I liked his get-up-and-go attitude. In the department of sentiments he truly loved his Japanese women. Yes, there were several, but he never treated any of them dishonorably. Through little stories told by the book's charactersJapan's customs and beliefs are beautifully described. I would love to have a "daruma", a carved little doll that is rounded on the bottom. No matter how many times you knock it over, it rolls and rights itself again. A perfect depiction of Guraba himself. These stories and haiku poetry are beautiful interwoven into the book.
If one has ever visited Japan, one will recognize so much. You will think, "Yes, I remember that!"
The author also tackles the importance of honour in Japanese culture. I am wondering if this honor is the cause of both Japan's extreme refinement and brutality. Think of Japanese gardens, gift wrapping, textiles and, art. Think also of the horrific Japanese brutality in war.
Glover played a key role in the modern industrialisation of Japan. He opened the first coal mine, naval dry-docks and railroad line. He helped found the Japan Brewery Company. He took an active part in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, to be followed by the Meiji government. It is amazing all the stuff this guy did!
I just finished this book. I am totally numb. The ending is quite different from the rest of the book. Or maybe it really isn't. The book is engrossing, beautiful and wise. Maybe I will be able to write coherently when the whole has sunk in. I simply don't know where to start; how to explain why this is such a wonderful book.
I really came to care for the main characters, Guraba (Glover's Japanese nickname), the Japanese women in his life, several of his Japanese friends and even his enemies. I prefer to call Glover Guruba because in spirit he became more Japanese than Scottish. Most foreigners were in Japan for money or colonial pursuits. Don't get me wrong, Guraba also wanted to make money. He made a fortune, lost it and made another fortune! Through hard work and imaginative ideas. I liked his get-up-and-go attitude. In the department of sentiments he truly loved his Japanese women. Yes, there were several, but he never treated any of them dishonorably. Through little stories told by the book's charactersJapan's customs and beliefs are beautifully described. I would love to have a "daruma", a carved little doll that is rounded on the bottom. No matter how many times you knock it over, it rolls and rights itself again. A perfect depiction of Guraba himself. These stories and haiku poetry are beautiful interwoven into the book.
If one has ever visited Japan, one will recognize so much. You will think, "Yes, I remember that!"
The author also tackles the importance of honour in Japanese culture. I am wondering if this honor is the cause of both Japan's extreme refinement and brutality. Think of Japanese gardens, gift wrapping, textiles and, art. Think also of the horrific Japanese brutality in war.
Glover played a key role in the modern industrialisation of Japan. He opened the first coal mine, naval dry-docks and railroad line. He helped found the Japan Brewery Company. He took an active part in the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate, to be followed by the Meiji government. It is amazing all the stuff this guy did!
I just finished this book. I am totally numb. The ending is quite different from the rest of the book. Or maybe it really isn't. The book is engrossing, beautiful and wise. Maybe I will be able to write coherently when the whole has sunk in. I simply don't know where to start; how to explain why this is such a wonderful book.
June 28, 2013
I saw this book in my mom's bookshelf, and I wanted to read it because I've recently been interested in all things Japanese, and thought I might learn something from it. Plus, I haven't read any historical novel in years, and just wanted some "light" reading. I finished the book (I have read far worse), but I didn't really like it that much after all.
There are mainly two reasons why it gets only one star. The story is based on real events, the main character has actually existed. I feel that the story is too... simple, shallow. Tom Glover does all these things and meet all these people, some of whom become really important people in his life, but none of these characters feels like "real people". There is very little reflection, very little emotions. Or rather, the reader is told that Tom feels this or that when things happens, but very little of it makes an impact on the reader. The author tells more than he shows, actually, and perhaps he also tries to cover too much - a very extraordinary life - on too few pages.
The cover of my edition says this is a tragic love story that inspired Puccini, and the reader will remember it for a very long time... After I read the book, this description surprises me. I'm even inclined to doubt that it's really this story that inspired Puccini, because it seems so... ordinary. This tragedy happens very late in the book, and it's certainly not the love stories (Tom has several women) that I'm going to remember from it. This is mainly because the women in the book seem like paper dolls. It's as if they're all one and the same woman, when they laugh and childishly claps their hands, so gentle and so in love with him... The sex scenes, although not very long, are also really terrible, and "so 19th century"... I blame the writer for this. I think that if Tom truly loved any of these women, he must have seen them as individuals, but the reader gets very few clues as to who any of them really are. There was one scene when Tom has bought a tiger; one of the women is afraid of the beast, and the other one is excited by it. This shows the difference of these women is that one is anxious and careful, and the other one is curious and brave. Something makes me think this scene was suggested by a beta reader who wanted the women to show some "personality"... I don't know, but now it seems like my lasting impression is that I'm just annoyed.
As for the history, well, I might have learned some things, but I think I would have learned a lot more from a biography of this person!
Also, something tells me the writer doesn't really speak Japanese, but just added some for "atmosphere"... Not that I know a lot, but something about it seems a bit off.
There are mainly two reasons why it gets only one star. The story is based on real events, the main character has actually existed. I feel that the story is too... simple, shallow. Tom Glover does all these things and meet all these people, some of whom become really important people in his life, but none of these characters feels like "real people". There is very little reflection, very little emotions. Or rather, the reader is told that Tom feels this or that when things happens, but very little of it makes an impact on the reader. The author tells more than he shows, actually, and perhaps he also tries to cover too much - a very extraordinary life - on too few pages.
The cover of my edition says this is a tragic love story that inspired Puccini, and the reader will remember it for a very long time... After I read the book, this description surprises me. I'm even inclined to doubt that it's really this story that inspired Puccini, because it seems so... ordinary. This tragedy happens very late in the book, and it's certainly not the love stories (Tom has several women) that I'm going to remember from it. This is mainly because the women in the book seem like paper dolls. It's as if they're all one and the same woman, when they laugh and childishly claps their hands, so gentle and so in love with him... The sex scenes, although not very long, are also really terrible, and "so 19th century"... I blame the writer for this. I think that if Tom truly loved any of these women, he must have seen them as individuals, but the reader gets very few clues as to who any of them really are. There was one scene when Tom has bought a tiger; one of the women is afraid of the beast, and the other one is excited by it. This shows the difference of these women is that one is anxious and careful, and the other one is curious and brave. Something makes me think this scene was suggested by a beta reader who wanted the women to show some "personality"... I don't know, but now it seems like my lasting impression is that I'm just annoyed.
As for the history, well, I might have learned some things, but I think I would have learned a lot more from a biography of this person!
Also, something tells me the writer doesn't really speak Japanese, but just added some for "atmosphere"... Not that I know a lot, but something about it seems a bit off.
December 20, 2017
I didn't realise that this novel was based on a true story, which makes it even more interesting in my eyes.
The story follows Thomas Glover, a young man growing up in Scotland in the 1800s, who gets the opportunity to relocate to Japan. He leaves behind his family and his childhood sweetheart and sets off on the long journey to a very foreign land, a land that is hostile to outsiders.
Glover learns quickly and soon starts to see where there are opportunities to make money, and not always in the most ethical manner. He starts to amass a fortune, all the while playing an imperative role in overthrowing the Japanese political regime at the time.
Glover also develops a taste for Japanese courtesans, and in addition to his fortune, starts to build a family as well.
It is speculated that the story of "Madame Butterfly" is based on Thomas Glover's affair with a Japanese courtesan, and the author presents the novel as though this was true.
After reading this novel I went and Googled Thomas Glover, and he was a key figure in the industrialisation of Japan, becoming a founder of what became the Mitsubishi corporation.
All in all, a very interesting read, and well written. Although I didn't really warm to the main character, as I found him to be a bit dodgy. I guess that no one becomes truly successful by worrying about keeping their hands clean all the time.
The story follows Thomas Glover, a young man growing up in Scotland in the 1800s, who gets the opportunity to relocate to Japan. He leaves behind his family and his childhood sweetheart and sets off on the long journey to a very foreign land, a land that is hostile to outsiders.
Glover learns quickly and soon starts to see where there are opportunities to make money, and not always in the most ethical manner. He starts to amass a fortune, all the while playing an imperative role in overthrowing the Japanese political regime at the time.
Glover also develops a taste for Japanese courtesans, and in addition to his fortune, starts to build a family as well.
It is speculated that the story of "Madame Butterfly" is based on Thomas Glover's affair with a Japanese courtesan, and the author presents the novel as though this was true.
After reading this novel I went and Googled Thomas Glover, and he was a key figure in the industrialisation of Japan, becoming a founder of what became the Mitsubishi corporation.
All in all, a very interesting read, and well written. Although I didn't really warm to the main character, as I found him to be a bit dodgy. I guess that no one becomes truly successful by worrying about keeping their hands clean all the time.
February 21, 2020
"La forma è il vuoto. Lei lo abitava, sedeva in quel luogo spoglio, un giardino di sassi della mente."
Storia neanche tanto romanzata di Thomas Blake Glover, scozzese che visse in Giappone e, intanto che si arricchiva vendendo armi ai clan ribelli, ostacolando lo Shogun Tokugawa, prese parte agli eventi che provocarono la Restaurazione Meiji.
Una vita avventurosa, ai limiti dell'incredibile, Tom Glover sbarcò come semplice impiegato e col tempo ha contribuito a far nascere la Mitsubishi, la sua relazione con una donna del luogo ha dato ispirazione alla storia di Madame Butterfly, il figlio nato da quell'unione ha visto Nagasaki bruciare sotto la Bomba Atomica.
La narrazione è fluida, la storia avvincente, la ricostruzione storica accuratissima.
"L'esistenza è sofferenza. La sua causa è il desiderio."
Storia neanche tanto romanzata di Thomas Blake Glover, scozzese che visse in Giappone e, intanto che si arricchiva vendendo armi ai clan ribelli, ostacolando lo Shogun Tokugawa, prese parte agli eventi che provocarono la Restaurazione Meiji.
Una vita avventurosa, ai limiti dell'incredibile, Tom Glover sbarcò come semplice impiegato e col tempo ha contribuito a far nascere la Mitsubishi, la sua relazione con una donna del luogo ha dato ispirazione alla storia di Madame Butterfly, il figlio nato da quell'unione ha visto Nagasaki bruciare sotto la Bomba Atomica.
La narrazione è fluida, la storia avvincente, la ricostruzione storica accuratissima.
"L'esistenza è sofferenza. La sua causa è il desiderio."
September 29, 2023
The Pure Land by Alan Spence is based on the real life figure of Thomas Blake Glover. He had an interesting life (given that he's linked to Madama Butterfly and Miss Saigon), but with this novel I'm not sure if I was supposed to take this seriously or not. It felt far too flat when it comes to characterizations. No one felt like they could walk off the page or were actually inspired by real people. Certain language things bugged me too, especially "Irasshaimase" when "Okaerinasai" would have been made a lot more sense in context. Overall, this just didn't work for me as much as I was hoping.
March 15, 2015
Πέρασε την γέφυρα του δισταγμού
και τη γέφυρα της απόφασης
προσπέρασε τον αιωρούμενο κόσμο
και βάδισε προς την Γη των Αθώων.....
Ένα υπέροχο βιβλίο το οποίο μιλάει για την Ιαπωνία την εποχή που άρχισαν οι εμπορικές συναλλαγές με την Δύση και η αλλαγές που πραγματοποίηθηκαν στην Ανατολή. Ο αναγνώστης το βλέπει όλο αυτό μέσα από την ζωή ενός νεαρού από την Σκοτία όπου μετακόμισε εκεί με σκοπό να εργαστεί.
Το βιβλίο είναι γεμάτο με εικόνες, αρώματα και πολλά στοιχεία παράδοσης που σου ξεδιπλώνονται τόσο όμορφα όταν διαβάζει το συγκεκριμένο έργο. Επίσης σε αυτό περιέχονται και πολλά ιστορικά στοιχεία. Τα παραπάνω κατέταξαν το βιβλίο σε ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου. Ότι και να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο θα είναι λίγο, ακόμα και το τέλος σου αφήνει μία πολύ γλυκιά αίσθηση...
και τη γέφυρα της απόφασης
προσπέρασε τον αιωρούμενο κόσμο
και βάδισε προς την Γη των Αθώων.....
Ένα υπέροχο βιβλίο το οποίο μιλάει για την Ιαπωνία την εποχή που άρχισαν οι εμπορικές συναλλαγές με την Δύση και η αλλαγές που πραγματοποίηθηκαν στην Ανατολή. Ο αναγνώστης το βλέπει όλο αυτό μέσα από την ζωή ενός νεαρού από την Σκοτία όπου μετακόμισε εκεί με σκοπό να εργαστεί.
Το βιβλίο είναι γεμάτο με εικόνες, αρώματα και πολλά στοιχεία παράδοσης που σου ξεδιπλώνονται τόσο όμορφα όταν διαβάζει το συγκεκριμένο έργο. Επίσης σε αυτό περιέχονται και πολλά ιστορικά στοιχεία. Τα παραπάνω κατέταξαν το βιβλίο σε ένα από τα αγαπημένα μου. Ότι και να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο θα είναι λίγο, ακόμα και το τέλος σου αφήνει μία πολύ γλυκιά αίσθηση...
December 18, 2010
Did not finish. Got to page 134 before I gave up. The book was not fleshed out well. It seemed like I was reading the outline for his novel.
May 30, 2024
Novela histórica sobre un personaje real, Thomas Glover, un escocés que trabajó en Japón vendiendo té, armas y opio y contribuyó al derrocamiento del Shogun y el inicio de la era Meiji, donde el emperador recuperó el control político y finalizó la era de los daimios, los samurais (descritos aquí como matones con malas pulgas) y la discriminación del pueblo llano.
La novela va perdiendo fuelle a cada página y está llena de clichés, lugares comunes, aburridos y largos diálogos y un final cuádruple que no acaba de llegar. Es lo que pasa cuando cuentas una historia de un personaje real: que no acaba nunca. El autor se documentó sobre todos los eventos y las personas que conoció Glover, y por el libro desfilan como personajes de cartón piedra.
Tampoco queda claro que tenga mucho que ver con Madama Butterfly, aunque la mujer de Glover aparecía en las fotografías con kimono y una mariposa bordada y la casa de Glover esté en un alto sobre Nagasaki. En cualquier caso la referencia final a la ópera está ahí (guiño), un poco para que evoquemos a Cho-cho-san y a Pinkerton.
Al final queda un retrato algo caricaturizado de la brutalidad en política exterior inglesa y de la historia y cultura de este país fascinante.
La novela va perdiendo fuelle a cada página y está llena de clichés, lugares comunes, aburridos y largos diálogos y un final cuádruple que no acaba de llegar. Es lo que pasa cuando cuentas una historia de un personaje real: que no acaba nunca. El autor se documentó sobre todos los eventos y las personas que conoció Glover, y por el libro desfilan como personajes de cartón piedra.
Tampoco queda claro que tenga mucho que ver con Madama Butterfly, aunque la mujer de Glover aparecía en las fotografías con kimono y una mariposa bordada y la casa de Glover esté en un alto sobre Nagasaki. En cualquier caso la referencia final a la ópera está ahí (guiño), un poco para que evoquemos a Cho-cho-san y a Pinkerton.
Al final queda un retrato algo caricaturizado de la brutalidad en política exterior inglesa y de la historia y cultura de este país fascinante.
didn-t-finish
September 29, 2021blah blah mikä ukkelikirja, en jaksa lukea enempää, 100 sivua riitti.
May 6, 2021
A Terra Pura é uma obra escrita por Alan Spence e traduzida por Manuela Madureira, que, apesar de ser ficcional, parte de um fundo histórico, ao inspirar-se na biografia de Thomas Glover, um escocês, que é o protagonista da história narrada (a sua trágica paixão por uma cortesã deu origem à criação da ópera Madame Butterfly, de Puccini).
Glover é um escocês que decidiu ir trabalhar para Nagasáqui, em 1858, onde se estabeleceu e se deixou cativar pela cultura nipónica e cuja vida se pautou por uma extrema ambição. Para além de ser dotado para os negócios, o seu carácter confiante, comunicativo e ousado, conferiu-lhe sempre algum carisma, que lhe possibilitou uma fácil integração e uma relação com algumas das pessoas mais importantes da sua época. Começou por trabalhar numa empresa chá, mas rapidamente abriu a sua própria empresa, exportando chá. Mas a sua ambição levou-o à venda de ópio, armas, canhões, navios. Inaugurou a primeira locomotiva no Japão. Foi inteligente ao casar-se com Sono do clã Satsuma, que lhe permitiu ampliar o negócio e não ser visto como estrangeiro.
Glover foi um apoiante do período Meiji japonês, pelo seu desejo de abrir o Japão ao Ocidente. Depois de falir, terá desenvolvido a mina de carvão Takashima, revelando-se como uma figura preponderante na industrialização do Japão fundador de uma empresa naval que, mais tarde se tornou na Mitsubishi do Japão.
E não foi só a nível profissional que se salientou. A sua vida amorosa foi igualmente tumultuosa. Teve três filhos de três mulheres diferentes.
É um livro interessante pelos factos reais em que é baseado relativamente a Thomas Glover e à própria história do Japão. Porém, não achei extraordinário, talvez por não ter conseguido criar empatia com o protagonista. Nem sempre a ambição é positiva, talvez esse seja um dos fatores para não me ter identificado de todo com Thomas Glover.
Glover é um escocês que decidiu ir trabalhar para Nagasáqui, em 1858, onde se estabeleceu e se deixou cativar pela cultura nipónica e cuja vida se pautou por uma extrema ambição. Para além de ser dotado para os negócios, o seu carácter confiante, comunicativo e ousado, conferiu-lhe sempre algum carisma, que lhe possibilitou uma fácil integração e uma relação com algumas das pessoas mais importantes da sua época. Começou por trabalhar numa empresa chá, mas rapidamente abriu a sua própria empresa, exportando chá. Mas a sua ambição levou-o à venda de ópio, armas, canhões, navios. Inaugurou a primeira locomotiva no Japão. Foi inteligente ao casar-se com Sono do clã Satsuma, que lhe permitiu ampliar o negócio e não ser visto como estrangeiro.
Glover foi um apoiante do período Meiji japonês, pelo seu desejo de abrir o Japão ao Ocidente. Depois de falir, terá desenvolvido a mina de carvão Takashima, revelando-se como uma figura preponderante na industrialização do Japão fundador de uma empresa naval que, mais tarde se tornou na Mitsubishi do Japão.
E não foi só a nível profissional que se salientou. A sua vida amorosa foi igualmente tumultuosa. Teve três filhos de três mulheres diferentes.
É um livro interessante pelos factos reais em que é baseado relativamente a Thomas Glover e à própria história do Japão. Porém, não achei extraordinário, talvez por não ter conseguido criar empatia com o protagonista. Nem sempre a ambição é positiva, talvez esse seja um dos fatores para não me ter identificado de todo com Thomas Glover.
July 18, 2024
A fine piece of writing.
October 13, 2017
I rarely give out a single star, but this one just annoyed me to no end. It reads like a roughly sketched out fan fiction, consisting of imagined vignettes meant to show the historical figure's character (such as it is), interspersed with lots of exposition about Japan and the incursion of foreigners in the 19th century. I skimmed through a lot and mostly wanted to punch the protagonist in the face. The women characters (again, such as they are) are nothing more than props. Utterly unenjoyable.
June 4, 2008
Love this. Loved, loved, loved it.
The Pure Land follows the life of Thomas Glover, a Scottish expatriot to Japan in the late 1850s who literally funded a revolution. We are with Glover when he first decides to travel so far from home in a tiny northern Scottish village and seek his fortune in this distant land. We sympathize with him as he stumbles through his early years in Japan, trying to learn the language and the culture and the business he has been hired to work for, all while evading the violent tendencies of the samurai who resent the presence of foreigners in their land. We glory in his triumph as he becomes a successful businessman in his own right and begins to develop personal relationships with those around him, including a series of concubines with whom he tries, again and again, to form a family. We are moved by his efforts to aid Japanese rebels in overthrowing the Shogun and returning the rule of Japan to the Emperor, and feel his pain when he is witness to a major military attack on a village of people he loves, many of whom are lost.
It is a poignant, moving story, one that inspired the musical Miss Saigon and the opera Madame Butterfly. The reader experiences so many of Glover's thoughts and emotions in a very resonant way, and I personally found myself carried away with Glover's adventure as if I were there beside him experiencing it all firsthand.
This is a novel full of magic and realism, buoyant and heartrending all at once, and is a truly fascinating and engrossing read. I will definitely be reading this one again.
The Pure Land follows the life of Thomas Glover, a Scottish expatriot to Japan in the late 1850s who literally funded a revolution. We are with Glover when he first decides to travel so far from home in a tiny northern Scottish village and seek his fortune in this distant land. We sympathize with him as he stumbles through his early years in Japan, trying to learn the language and the culture and the business he has been hired to work for, all while evading the violent tendencies of the samurai who resent the presence of foreigners in their land. We glory in his triumph as he becomes a successful businessman in his own right and begins to develop personal relationships with those around him, including a series of concubines with whom he tries, again and again, to form a family. We are moved by his efforts to aid Japanese rebels in overthrowing the Shogun and returning the rule of Japan to the Emperor, and feel his pain when he is witness to a major military attack on a village of people he loves, many of whom are lost.
It is a poignant, moving story, one that inspired the musical Miss Saigon and the opera Madame Butterfly. The reader experiences so many of Glover's thoughts and emotions in a very resonant way, and I personally found myself carried away with Glover's adventure as if I were there beside him experiencing it all firsthand.
This is a novel full of magic and realism, buoyant and heartrending all at once, and is a truly fascinating and engrossing read. I will definitely be reading this one again.
September 7, 2015
Ένα πραγματικά υπέροχο βιβλίο το οποίο μας περιγράφει τις συνθήκες που επικρατούσαν στην Ιαπωνία στα τέλη του του 19ο αιώνα αρχές του επόμενου. Όταν στην Ιαπωνία άρχισαν να γίνονται εμπορικές συναλλαγές με την Δύση αλλά και να εκβιομηχανίζεται. Αναφέρεται στο βιβλίο η πολιτική κατάσταση της χώρας αλλά και οι συγκρούσεις μεταξύ των κατοίκων της. Αυτό το βιβλίο είχε ένα μοναδικό τρόπο να σε ταξιδέψει στην Ιαπωνία μέσα όμως και από την υπέροχη ιστορία του πρωταγωνιστή οποίος σε μικρή ηλικία μετακόμισε εκεί για να εργαστεί και στη συνέχεια έπαιξε καθοριστικό ρόλο στην εξέλιξη των πραγμάτων. Το προτείνω ανεπιφύλακτα σε όλους για να ξεκινήσουν ένα σαγηνευτικό ταξίδι!!!
September 29, 2015
Recomiendo este libro a todos los amantes del Lejano Oriente. Estoy seguro de que deben haber muchas imprecisiones y pequeños matices que no sean fieles a la realidad pero considero que el autor ha logrado plasmar gran parte de la filosofía y interpretación de la vida en el Imperio nipón pre-Meiji. No sólo se trata de un simple relato, sinó que se puede entender el contexto histórico de la época con más relevancia en la historia de este pais. También me ha gustado cómo se describe la evoloción como empresario y como persona del protagonista y mucho más al descubrir de no se trataba de un personaje de ficción.
May 8, 2008
I was so disappointed in this book. It called out to me from the library shelf. It looked like something I would really enjoy, a historical novel, a Scotish man and takes place in Japan in 1860's, love the idea. It was sooooo terrible. I was layed over in the Atlanta Airport and could not even force myself to read it. I was so mad!
March 14, 2008
When a book gets awards- I really WANT to like it. However it felt sort of amateurish to me. There were some twists to it but wholly predictable. I am disappointed with this book. Where is my next 5 star-er?????
May 2, 2011
I thought it was awful. I only gave it two stars because the first few chapters were interesting and I am interested enough in the history of the main character to try to find a better book about his story. It degenerated quickly.
August 1, 2024
I need to sit down at a bar with Glover and talk business!
What a wonderful and extraordinary story, a visionary and businessman.
I laughed many times at his humor and way of seeing the world.
I loved the characters, I felt like I was part of the group.
Ito was my favorite, although I did have a bittersweet feeling about Maki's ending; she found her peace in a way I don't share, but given the era, it's understandable that she might not have had any other options.
Overall, I liked it a lot and enjoyed it immensely.
Glover has crazy ideas, but that's why he was able to become rich twice.
What a wonderful and extraordinary story, a visionary and businessman.
I laughed many times at his humor and way of seeing the world.
I loved the characters, I felt like I was part of the group.
Ito was my favorite, although I did have a bittersweet feeling about Maki's ending; she found her peace in a way I don't share, but given the era, it's understandable that she might not have had any other options.
Overall, I liked it a lot and enjoyed it immensely.
Glover has crazy ideas, but that's why he was able to become rich twice.
March 28, 2019
Une merveille ! Une plongée au cœur d’une des périodes les plus intéressantes et foisonnantes du Japon, la fin du bakufu et le début de l’ère Meiji où petite et grande histoires se mêlent. Un chef-d’œuvre !
April 22, 2025
Historia novelada sobre la vida y aventuras de Thomas Blake Glover, comerciante escocés que viajó a Japón en el s. XIX y tuvo mucha influencia en su industrialización.
El estilo narrativo es bueno y cómodo para leer. Libro muy recomendable para los amantes de Japón y su cultura. Tiene un punto espiritual, además de aventura, amor, guerras y honor.
El estilo narrativo es bueno y cómodo para leer. Libro muy recomendable para los amantes de Japón y su cultura. Tiene un punto espiritual, además de aventura, amor, guerras y honor.
December 20, 2022
Un plongeon dans le Japon du XIX, en suivant Thomas Glover, un écossais d'Aberdeen qui fit fortune à Nagasaki au moment où le pays s'ouvrait pour la première fois aux marchands étrangers. Entre ronin, manufactures de thé, samouraï aux idées révolutionnaires, chantiers navales, concubines-épouses et papillons de papier, vous découvrirez rien de moins que l'histoire qui a inspiré Madama Butterfly, avec des flash forward jusqu'à la bombe en 1945 et jusqu'au présent. Le tout dans une écriture narrative impéccable qui vous tiendra accrochés pendant des longues séances de lecture. À ne pas rater, si vous aimez le genre du roman historique.
December 12, 2014
I was hooked from the first page (maybe because I was picturing Glover as Max Irons,....WHAT? I had been obsessing over the Riot club, you can't blame me, he's gorgeous! ) Anyways enjoyed reading about his small country boy dreams, and saw the book mapping out like a movie. anyone that knows me will know that I'm one for romances, so when it the book kept screaming 'a tragic romance' I was totally going to read it, but there was NO romance whatsoever, he literally found a mistress overnight (understandable, got her pregnant and they got married the following week?? WHAT???? WHERE IS MY ROMANCE?? I want ed the mistress to be witty or sassy or him to be more up tight towards her, just something to stretch out the love story, but no, it was just BOM BOM POW,they have a baby BOM POW she leaves him when the baby dies (fair enough), I just feel like if it was a good romance they would have spread out their falling in love process,or just have more about her in the book. I never made it to the end of the book, be cause I was disappointed, but I don't regret picking it up. (maybe one day I will come back to finish it)
not going to lie, totally learnt a few bits and bobs about international trade and finance myself, very grateful for that.
ありがとう
not going to lie, totally learnt a few bits and bobs about international trade and finance myself, very grateful for that.
ありがとう
December 14, 2008
I started out really liking this book. The opening had a quiet beauty to it that was really intriguing. It failed, however, to continue through the novel. In all, it was pretty interesting, but the beginning seemed to have little to do with the rest of the book. It could have easily been left out without affecting the bulk of the novel at all. I was also expecting some romance, since the back cover touted the story as being the inspiration for Madame Butterfly and Miss Saigon. There really wasn't much of a tragic love story. It was more of a footnote at the end of the book.
The history of the book was captivating, but since I have little knowledge of the actual Thomas Glover, I don't have a way of distinguishing was is pure fiction and what is based in historical fact. Granted, that's my ignorance getting in the way, but it was still a tad annoying. Now I'm going to have to do some research. :P
It was a decent read, but didn't hold my attention like I thought it was going to in the beginning.
The history of the book was captivating, but since I have little knowledge of the actual Thomas Glover, I don't have a way of distinguishing was is pure fiction and what is based in historical fact. Granted, that's my ignorance getting in the way, but it was still a tad annoying. Now I'm going to have to do some research. :P
It was a decent read, but didn't hold my attention like I thought it was going to in the beginning.
September 30, 2008
Undecided about the rating--I was swinging between 3 and 4, so gave it four. The core story of the book is that of Thomas Glover who brought Western ship building, the locomotive and other technology to Japan, and who is the father of Kirin beer. What got me was the first chapter, and the 2nd and 3rd to last chapters. What was their purpose? Why show us Nagasaki just after the bomb? Why come back to it and even bring us through to the 21st century. These 3 chapters stood out as sore thumbs to me. (OK, now it's back to being rated a 3. ) Overall, an interesting story, but Spence has bitten off too large piece of history to chew in 400 pages. Oh, and the Kobe Incident in the book is so twisted that it is all inaccurate--that really annoyed me. I understand that a writer can do what he wants, but rewriting history? OK, OK, it's fiction...
January 12, 2011
The author takes the facts of Thomas Blake Glover's life and weaves those facts into a novel that is enchanting. Glover was a daring young Scot who went to Japan when he was about 20 years old, made a fortune, but was a major player in bringing Japan into the modern world. The novel includes the girl left behind in Scotland and the two Japanese wives as well as the son he fathered by a courtesan. This is an amazing story beautifully written. On the downside, the first half of the novel jerks along roughly as if the author is working so hard to incorporate the facts that he has uncovered. So, for readers who gave up on the book, I could understand why. Ironically, this probably reflects Glover's early, brash life in Japan. In the last part of the novel, however, there is a smoothness that takes over as the story becomes more fictional--but probably the essence of truth.
October 30, 2013
The Pure Land is like Shibumi, no, more like Shogun, that I read as a teen (I wonder if I put it in my Goodreads). It is interesting, a pretty quick read...but for some reason, I'm not feeling it like Shogun, not sure why. It just didn't pick me up and float me away to the island kingdom for some reason.
I think I'm harder to please, at my age. When I read Shogun when I was 18 or so, I was just like, awesome dude, I'm gonna get a sword and learn how to count to a hundred strokes when I'm having sex! I think there were definitely fewer Asian sex tips in The Pure Land, while no fewer prostitution scenes, for sure.
You should try this book, discerning reader. You may use your powers and have a more engaging experience than I had.
I think I'm harder to please, at my age. When I read Shogun when I was 18 or so, I was just like, awesome dude, I'm gonna get a sword and learn how to count to a hundred strokes when I'm having sex! I think there were definitely fewer Asian sex tips in The Pure Land, while no fewer prostitution scenes, for sure.
You should try this book, discerning reader. You may use your powers and have a more engaging experience than I had.
July 27, 2011
I do enjoy stories set in Japan and Spence does give a certain feel for the culture of this country but it seems very much a Westernised view of Japanese culture. At times the story was very disconnected and confusing and Glover often proves a less than reliable character. The attitudes towards Japanese women was pretty typical of the time for a Western man but their attitude towards his taking a Japanese wife seemed very accepting. If you enjoy novels about Japan and it's culture you'd be better reading Murakami or Dalby's novelised biography of Madame Murasaki, the woman who wrote the Japanese classic 'Tales of Genji', or 'Tales of Genji' itself.
July 1, 2008
Again I am surprised by my interest in historical fiction. This novel is about Thomas Glover the "famous" (I had never heard of him) Scottish Entrepreneur who opened up Japanese markets to the west and visa versa.
Definitely worth the read if you have an interest in Japanese culture and recent history its worth a read.
The writing style isn't anything fancy, its a little bland ion most parts but the characters are believable and interesting enough to make up for it.
It kinda dragged on at the end for a few pages, next time I read it ill stop after the 3rd to last chapter.
Definitely worth the read if you have an interest in Japanese culture and recent history its worth a read.
The writing style isn't anything fancy, its a little bland ion most parts but the characters are believable and interesting enough to make up for it.
It kinda dragged on at the end for a few pages, next time I read it ill stop after the 3rd to last chapter.
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