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Eroshenko
Tokyo, 1915
While WWI rages, half a world away, Tokyo is a hotbed of radical ideas, as cosmopolitan intellectuals and activists from around the world cross paths in a rapidly modernizing city. Socialists and anarchists, musicians and artists from Japan, China, Korea, India, and Russia all passionately advocate for a more just and equal world.
Blind Ukrainian Vasily Eroshenko is drawn to Tokyo in search of greater opportunities and respect for blind people. At a salon for radicals on the second floor of a bakery, he meets the anarcho-feminists of Bluestocking magazine, fearless women fighting for bodily autonomy and free love.
Kamichika Ichiko is a contributor to Bluestocking and the first woman reporter at the Tokyo Daily News. She is most at home among the Bluestockings who dress like men and engage in “sister” relationships. Yet she is drawn to Eroshenko and helps him publish his political fables.
As Eroshenko becomes a celebrated writer and public speaker, he becomes more outspoken in advocating for socialism, feminism, and disability rights, but the authorities will not long tolerate this disruptive foreigner.
Based on extraordinary, heartbreaking true events, Eroshenko is a wild fever dream of utopianism, polyamory, artistic creation, jealousy, and persecution, unfurling against the backdrop of Japan’s belle époque, called Taishō Romanticism. When high and low, East and West, old and new intermingled, these activists dreamed of a better world, trying to stem the tide of growing fascism.
While WWI rages, half a world away, Tokyo is a hotbed of radical ideas, as cosmopolitan intellectuals and activists from around the world cross paths in a rapidly modernizing city. Socialists and anarchists, musicians and artists from Japan, China, Korea, India, and Russia all passionately advocate for a more just and equal world.
Blind Ukrainian Vasily Eroshenko is drawn to Tokyo in search of greater opportunities and respect for blind people. At a salon for radicals on the second floor of a bakery, he meets the anarcho-feminists of Bluestocking magazine, fearless women fighting for bodily autonomy and free love.
Kamichika Ichiko is a contributor to Bluestocking and the first woman reporter at the Tokyo Daily News. She is most at home among the Bluestockings who dress like men and engage in “sister” relationships. Yet she is drawn to Eroshenko and helps him publish his political fables.
As Eroshenko becomes a celebrated writer and public speaker, he becomes more outspoken in advocating for socialism, feminism, and disability rights, but the authorities will not long tolerate this disruptive foreigner.
Based on extraordinary, heartbreaking true events, Eroshenko is a wild fever dream of utopianism, polyamory, artistic creation, jealousy, and persecution, unfurling against the backdrop of Japan’s belle époque, called Taishō Romanticism. When high and low, East and West, old and new intermingled, these activists dreamed of a better world, trying to stem the tide of growing fascism.
336 pages, Paperback
Published February 10, 2025
6 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Lucy May Lennox
5 books117 followersLucy May Lennox is a connoisseur of novels featuring men with physical disabilities. After growing frustrated with all the cliches, ignorance and stereotypes, she decided to write her own positive take on disability. She also loves immersing herself in earlier historical periods and imagining the lives of people who don't usually make it into the history books. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest USA with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 14, 2025
A historical tale based on the life of Vasily Eroshenko, a blind man from Ukraine, who travelled through the streets of Russia, England, and India, finally was in Tokyo (Japan) in the year 1915 when Japan was going through their own political and social changes. Continents away WW1 was fought and artists and countrymen from Japan, Korea, India, and China among others were advocating for equality.
Vasily was in the city of Tokyo advocating for a better life for blind people all over the world and he firmly believed a common language was the solution. Through his interaction with various people, some recurring and some with just one or two appearances, Lucy May Lennox takes us through some of the minds of the period and how even though their ideologies brought them together, the path each one wanted to take was entirely different. It makes you think, is there one correct way to change? Are any of them entirely wrong in the principles they follow?
While Vasily is the hero of the story it is told from the point of view of his friend/lover (sometimes), Ichiko, a journalist and a social worker who is still trying to find her ways while dealing with her personal feelings.
A well researched tale of resilience, bravery in the face of hardship and told from the pov of a woman who is smart, hard working, a little lost but always fighting for herself, Eroshenko is for readers who love historical fiction with slow burn drama.
Vasily was in the city of Tokyo advocating for a better life for blind people all over the world and he firmly believed a common language was the solution. Through his interaction with various people, some recurring and some with just one or two appearances, Lucy May Lennox takes us through some of the minds of the period and how even though their ideologies brought them together, the path each one wanted to take was entirely different. It makes you think, is there one correct way to change? Are any of them entirely wrong in the principles they follow?
While Vasily is the hero of the story it is told from the point of view of his friend/lover (sometimes), Ichiko, a journalist and a social worker who is still trying to find her ways while dealing with her personal feelings.
A well researched tale of resilience, bravery in the face of hardship and told from the pov of a woman who is smart, hard working, a little lost but always fighting for herself, Eroshenko is for readers who love historical fiction with slow burn drama.
September 28, 2025
I wasn't aware of Vasily Eroshenko until I stumbled across an article about him on a Chinese Esperanto site but was intrigued: http://esperanto.china.org.cn/2024-01...
An account of the life of Vasily's time in Japan from the perspective of an idealistic female journalist - Kamichika Ichiko - and how he affected the close knit socialist, radical anti imperialist sub-culture of early 20th century Tokyo, and the impression they made on him.
An accomplished writer - in both Japanese and Esperanto - talented musician and tireless worker for social justice generally, and the welfare of fellow blind folk in particular; his was a remarkable life.
Great characterisations and exploration of the bureaucratic squabbling, intrigues, and jealousies of so many groups, however well intended - but also that sense of purpose and mission in the face of government oppression.
Great example of the benefits of the esperanto community even in very early 1900s enabling an - albeit hardy and resourceful - blind traveler to get from Russia to London then around Asia mostly unaccompanied but with his trusty balalaika and a tale to tell.
Glad I found out about him and had Lucy May Lennox's excellent book to set this truly great international esperantist into his wider context 💚
An account of the life of Vasily's time in Japan from the perspective of an idealistic female journalist - Kamichika Ichiko - and how he affected the close knit socialist, radical anti imperialist sub-culture of early 20th century Tokyo, and the impression they made on him.
An accomplished writer - in both Japanese and Esperanto - talented musician and tireless worker for social justice generally, and the welfare of fellow blind folk in particular; his was a remarkable life.
Great characterisations and exploration of the bureaucratic squabbling, intrigues, and jealousies of so many groups, however well intended - but also that sense of purpose and mission in the face of government oppression.
Great example of the benefits of the esperanto community even in very early 1900s enabling an - albeit hardy and resourceful - blind traveler to get from Russia to London then around Asia mostly unaccompanied but with his trusty balalaika and a tale to tell.
Glad I found out about him and had Lucy May Lennox's excellent book to set this truly great international esperantist into his wider context 💚
February 25, 2025
Eroshenko is a novel of historical fiction by Lucy May Lennox based on the the true story of Vasily Eroshenko, a blind Ukrainian, and his friend and sometime lover, Ichiko Kamichika (神近市子), socialists in Tokyo during the heady days of 1915.
While WW1 is raging, Russia is embarking on a communist revolution, and Japan is in the middle of its transition from Shogunate feudalism to Meiji Westernization and on a path to military dictatorship. Eroshenko, a blind Ukrainian arrives in Tokyo.
Eroshenko is a musician and writer, as well as a teacher and promoter of Esperanto, the international language that he believes will build bridges between people around the world and make war impossible. He learns to speak fluent Japanese and begins to write stories and fables in Japanese.
Eroshenko is also a socialist activist, and arrives at the activist community in Tokyo centered in a group that meets above the Nakamura-ya Bakery in Shinjuku. There he meets Ichiko, a young writer for the groundbreaking Bluestocking feminist literary magazine and soon, the first female journalist for the Tokyo Daily News.
The small group of writers and radicals gather at Nakamura-ya to fight for a hodgepodge of related causes: socialism, anarchism, women’s emancipation, free love, and Esperanto. They are subject to disdain by family and arrest by the police, but mostly succumb to the internal strife of the headstrong activists.
Eroshenko and Ichiko become intimate. She transcribes his stories from braille and sells them to magazines for him. She escorts him to socialist events around the city where he’s a popular speaker. He seems to be in love with her, and her with him, but the radical community is too devoted to overturning social norms for something as conventional as monogamy and marriage.
Ichiko has an affair with the anarchist leader, Osugi Sakae (大杉栄), who leaves his wife, a fellow Bluestocking writer, but he also starts seeing Ito Noe (伊藤野枝), who takes over management of Bluestocking. Ichiko falls in love with Noe. Although Noe doesn’t return Ichiko’s sapphic yearning, all three move in together. If you think this can’t end well, I won’t give away the ending, but you can read about the Hayama Hikage Chaya incident and Amakasu Incident on Wikipedia.
Eroshenko is eventually deported from Japan to Vladivostok in 1921, but not before his portrait is painted by Tsune Nakamura (中村彝), another member of the group. The portrait is now designated an Important Cultural Property on permanent display at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. The Nakamura-ya Bakery continues to this day as a curry restaurant in Shinjuku after the Indian revolutionary Rash Behari Bose fled to Tokyo and married the bakery owner's daughter. Ichiko later became a member of parliament for the Japan Socialist Party.
The story of these real-world characters during a turbulent era is fascinating. The research for this book is well done. I felt like I was transported back to Shinjuku and Waseda University in the early 1900s. This novel taught me a part of Japanese history I knew nothing about. For that reason alone, this book is worth reading.
As a novel, though, it’s equally enjoyable and frustrating. At times, the writing soars; at other times, it plods along. The socialist speeches go on for too long and take away from the flow of the story. For a self-published novel, it’s very well done, but it’s missing some of the polish of a big press production.
The story has two fascinating main characters — Ichiko and Eroshenko. I loved both of them. I wanted both of them to find love, success, happiness. But if the story has a focus, it’s not really either of the bickering pair, but the entire messy group of radicals who gather at Nakamura-ya, fight with each other, have sex with each other, and love each other while stabbing each other in the back. It’s a hard story to pull off while remaining true to the historical record. But the history alone makes it worth reading for anyone with an interest in Japanese political history.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
While WW1 is raging, Russia is embarking on a communist revolution, and Japan is in the middle of its transition from Shogunate feudalism to Meiji Westernization and on a path to military dictatorship. Eroshenko, a blind Ukrainian arrives in Tokyo.
Eroshenko is a musician and writer, as well as a teacher and promoter of Esperanto, the international language that he believes will build bridges between people around the world and make war impossible. He learns to speak fluent Japanese and begins to write stories and fables in Japanese.
Eroshenko is also a socialist activist, and arrives at the activist community in Tokyo centered in a group that meets above the Nakamura-ya Bakery in Shinjuku. There he meets Ichiko, a young writer for the groundbreaking Bluestocking feminist literary magazine and soon, the first female journalist for the Tokyo Daily News.
The small group of writers and radicals gather at Nakamura-ya to fight for a hodgepodge of related causes: socialism, anarchism, women’s emancipation, free love, and Esperanto. They are subject to disdain by family and arrest by the police, but mostly succumb to the internal strife of the headstrong activists.
Eroshenko and Ichiko become intimate. She transcribes his stories from braille and sells them to magazines for him. She escorts him to socialist events around the city where he’s a popular speaker. He seems to be in love with her, and her with him, but the radical community is too devoted to overturning social norms for something as conventional as monogamy and marriage.
Ichiko has an affair with the anarchist leader, Osugi Sakae (大杉栄), who leaves his wife, a fellow Bluestocking writer, but he also starts seeing Ito Noe (伊藤野枝), who takes over management of Bluestocking. Ichiko falls in love with Noe. Although Noe doesn’t return Ichiko’s sapphic yearning, all three move in together. If you think this can’t end well, I won’t give away the ending, but you can read about the Hayama Hikage Chaya incident and Amakasu Incident on Wikipedia.
Eroshenko is eventually deported from Japan to Vladivostok in 1921, but not before his portrait is painted by Tsune Nakamura (中村彝), another member of the group. The portrait is now designated an Important Cultural Property on permanent display at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo. The Nakamura-ya Bakery continues to this day as a curry restaurant in Shinjuku after the Indian revolutionary Rash Behari Bose fled to Tokyo and married the bakery owner's daughter. Ichiko later became a member of parliament for the Japan Socialist Party.
The story of these real-world characters during a turbulent era is fascinating. The research for this book is well done. I felt like I was transported back to Shinjuku and Waseda University in the early 1900s. This novel taught me a part of Japanese history I knew nothing about. For that reason alone, this book is worth reading.
As a novel, though, it’s equally enjoyable and frustrating. At times, the writing soars; at other times, it plods along. The socialist speeches go on for too long and take away from the flow of the story. For a self-published novel, it’s very well done, but it’s missing some of the polish of a big press production.
The story has two fascinating main characters — Ichiko and Eroshenko. I loved both of them. I wanted both of them to find love, success, happiness. But if the story has a focus, it’s not really either of the bickering pair, but the entire messy group of radicals who gather at Nakamura-ya, fight with each other, have sex with each other, and love each other while stabbing each other in the back. It’s a hard story to pull off while remaining true to the historical record. But the history alone makes it worth reading for anyone with an interest in Japanese political history.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 2, 2025
Eroshenko is a richly textured historical novel that follows the life of Vasily Eroshenko, a blind Ukrainian Esperantist and writer who finds himself at the center of early 20th-century Tokyo’s anarchist, feminist, and literary circles. Through the eyes of Kamichika Ichiko, a headstrong lady reporter navigating her own path in a rigid, patriarchal society, we experience Eroshenko’s passionate ideals, his gentle spirit, and the political tensions simmering just below the surface of Meiji and Taishō-era Japan. The book blends historical facts and imagined dialogue seamlessly, offering a vivid snapshot of a revolutionary time and a cast of unforgettable characters.
I was immediately pulled in by the opening at the Nakamuraya salon. Lennox’s writing here is lush but never showy; the scent of cream buns and the dusty stairs, the eclectic furniture, the buzz of political energy, all of it just hit the right note. And the way Eroshenko is introduced, with his halo of blond curls and strange, tilted eyes, was so captivating I reread that section twice. The dialogue sparkled with personality, especially between Ichiko and Raichō, and there was a real sense of history being made in these cramped, smoky rooms.
Ichiko is smart, proud, and fiercely independent, but she’s also vulnerable, a bit naive, and maybe even a little lost. Her relationships with the other women, especially Noe, were complex and emotionally raw. That conversation over sweets and tea, with Noe breastfeeding and letting her baby pee off the veranda while talking about revolution and broken marriages? That was wild and intimate and, honestly, one of my favorite parts. It made me laugh, feel a little sad, and somehow more hopeful at the same time.
The story of Eroshenko himself, it’s hard not to fall in love with him the way Ichiko does. He’s this strange mix of gentle dreamer and idealistic firebrand. His ideas about Esperanto, storytelling, blind independence, and massaging for a living might sound like an odd combo, but Lennox makes it work. When he’s on the train to Enoshima or kissing Ichiko at the seaside lookout, you feel like you’re watching two lonely people touch the edges of something bigger. But even then, he stays a bit enigmatic. That ambiguity made the emotional payoffs more subtle, and in a way, more real.
This book’s a slow burn in the best way. If you’re the kind of reader who loves character-driven stories, rich dialogue, and historical fiction that doesn’t just name-drop but fully immerses you, Eroshenko is gold. It’s perfect for readers who have a soft spot for the underdog intellectuals and badass women navigating love, politics, and personal truth. It made me think, made me laugh, and made me want to look up everyone in it to learn more. Highly recommended.
I was immediately pulled in by the opening at the Nakamuraya salon. Lennox’s writing here is lush but never showy; the scent of cream buns and the dusty stairs, the eclectic furniture, the buzz of political energy, all of it just hit the right note. And the way Eroshenko is introduced, with his halo of blond curls and strange, tilted eyes, was so captivating I reread that section twice. The dialogue sparkled with personality, especially between Ichiko and Raichō, and there was a real sense of history being made in these cramped, smoky rooms.
Ichiko is smart, proud, and fiercely independent, but she’s also vulnerable, a bit naive, and maybe even a little lost. Her relationships with the other women, especially Noe, were complex and emotionally raw. That conversation over sweets and tea, with Noe breastfeeding and letting her baby pee off the veranda while talking about revolution and broken marriages? That was wild and intimate and, honestly, one of my favorite parts. It made me laugh, feel a little sad, and somehow more hopeful at the same time.
The story of Eroshenko himself, it’s hard not to fall in love with him the way Ichiko does. He’s this strange mix of gentle dreamer and idealistic firebrand. His ideas about Esperanto, storytelling, blind independence, and massaging for a living might sound like an odd combo, but Lennox makes it work. When he’s on the train to Enoshima or kissing Ichiko at the seaside lookout, you feel like you’re watching two lonely people touch the edges of something bigger. But even then, he stays a bit enigmatic. That ambiguity made the emotional payoffs more subtle, and in a way, more real.
This book’s a slow burn in the best way. If you’re the kind of reader who loves character-driven stories, rich dialogue, and historical fiction that doesn’t just name-drop but fully immerses you, Eroshenko is gold. It’s perfect for readers who have a soft spot for the underdog intellectuals and badass women navigating love, politics, and personal truth. It made me think, made me laugh, and made me want to look up everyone in it to learn more. Highly recommended.
February 18, 2025
Thank you, Lennox, for introducing me to a period of Japanese history that I'm not all familiar with, and for doing it while featuring somewhat obscure historical figures.
Eroshenko is a curious blend of historical fiction. When it comes to the backbone of the entire plot, Lennox goes heavy with the history. It's grand because commentary of the political landscape from a century ago can still find parallels today. Nakamuraya and Bose being included was a pleasant surprise. Yet another amazing historical detail for the setting. Especially enjoyed that there was an attempt to highlight LGTBQ history in Japan as well, before colonization and imperialism shamed it from being overt at least.
At first I was confused why Ichiko was the novel's main protagonist, until I later looked her up and realized how she could be a stellar analogue for inserting feminist internal observations. Creative liberties with a real basis! Historically, she flip-flops on how conservative her political beliefs are, and that is how she is here too. So I appreciate that she is a voice for ambiguity, a stark contrast to the radicals who surround her.
The titular Eroshenko is a charmer. His dialogue can seem a little stiff, especially when describing his political beliefs and his past history. Yet his vulnerable moments were powerful and struck a chord in me. Also appreciated that he had flaws, and he was far from being a perfect angel. And that there were variance of prejudices expressed within the narrative about his physical disability. Not all negative, not wholly positive. Like the rest of the story, lots of grays of sensitivities and nuances.
When it came to the fictional elements, I liked Lennox's take on the historical climax. I didn't buy into any of the love stories leading up to it, although I feel they contributed greatly to the ending itself. I especially liked that Ichiko's reasonings have a deeper element than I've seen in other fictional works based on said historical events. Helps when she's the protagonist for once. Unfortunately, it also weakened the nature and presentation of Eroshenko's fate to me. Without spoiling, I would have liked stylistic showing over being told about him like gossip.
The afterword cushioned the ending well, and it's a welcome glimpse into just how much research Lennox did for this novel. Even characters who aren't major players turn out to be some historical figure. She even lists the birth and death dates for characters who barely appear for a handful of chapters! I'm overjoyed by this level of dedication.
Definitely recommend Eroshenko to adult readers who don't mind reading about Japanese history and the struggles of political activism. Hope to read more from Lennox soon!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Eroshenko is a curious blend of historical fiction. When it comes to the backbone of the entire plot, Lennox goes heavy with the history. It's grand because commentary of the political landscape from a century ago can still find parallels today. Nakamuraya and Bose being included was a pleasant surprise. Yet another amazing historical detail for the setting. Especially enjoyed that there was an attempt to highlight LGTBQ history in Japan as well, before colonization and imperialism shamed it from being overt at least.
At first I was confused why Ichiko was the novel's main protagonist, until I later looked her up and realized how she could be a stellar analogue for inserting feminist internal observations. Creative liberties with a real basis! Historically, she flip-flops on how conservative her political beliefs are, and that is how she is here too. So I appreciate that she is a voice for ambiguity, a stark contrast to the radicals who surround her.
The titular Eroshenko is a charmer. His dialogue can seem a little stiff, especially when describing his political beliefs and his past history. Yet his vulnerable moments were powerful and struck a chord in me. Also appreciated that he had flaws, and he was far from being a perfect angel. And that there were variance of prejudices expressed within the narrative about his physical disability. Not all negative, not wholly positive. Like the rest of the story, lots of grays of sensitivities and nuances.
When it came to the fictional elements, I liked Lennox's take on the historical climax. I didn't buy into any of the love stories leading up to it, although I feel they contributed greatly to the ending itself. I especially liked that Ichiko's reasonings have a deeper element than I've seen in other fictional works based on said historical events. Helps when she's the protagonist for once. Unfortunately, it also weakened the nature and presentation of Eroshenko's fate to me. Without spoiling, I would have liked stylistic showing over being told about him like gossip.
The afterword cushioned the ending well, and it's a welcome glimpse into just how much research Lennox did for this novel. Even characters who aren't major players turn out to be some historical figure. She even lists the birth and death dates for characters who barely appear for a handful of chapters! I'm overjoyed by this level of dedication.
Definitely recommend Eroshenko to adult readers who don't mind reading about Japanese history and the struggles of political activism. Hope to read more from Lennox soon!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 28, 2025
While the world is in the grip of life-altering tumult from World War I, intellectual activists in Tokyo are inspired to pursue change by the charismatic energy of a foreign advocate in Eroshenko by Lucy May Lennox.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In Tokyo in 1915, reporter Kamichika Ichiko attends a salon where she meets Vasily Eroshenko, a blind Ukranian, who stands out, not simply because of his physical features distinguishing him from those around him but because of his adeptness and ability to speak a variety of languages and the great enthusiasm he exudes while advocating for the progression of political and social freedoms for all people. Through the connections forged in meetings among other similarly-minded individuals, the politics of revolution and change are presented through art, in the form of writing stories published in magazines, spreading an impassioned message and stance on activism in pursuit of those freedoms. As Ichiko endeavors to further her own ambitions to help progress women’s bodily autonomy and ability to seek free love, however it may be defined, she also feels drawn to Eroshenko and assist him in getting his political fables published, which helps them form a relationship that's filled with highs and lows, yet always seeks toward a mutual understanding. With Eroshenko’s popularity growing among the people, he becomes more outspoken about his views, capturing the attention of authorities, who increasingly cannot abide the disruptive ideals being disseminated and take action to remove his problematic meddling from the equation. Tensions rise in the nation, and within the interpersonal dynamics, driving actions and reactions fracturing them in ways that may drive them apart despite having similar goals they’re working toward.
Easily depicting the existence of the political within art and that art is often political, this story builds the tension of an impending revolution while placing an emphasis upon relationships to provide focus and even more deeply humanize the situation at hand and to further fan the flame burning to incite action as well as exemplify the freedoms sought and fought for. Presenting Ichiko’s perspective of the slowly evolving events over the course of two years, there’s a building to the tension in gradual states with the facets of personalities revealed to more deeply explain their motivation toward action; through her interactions with Eroshenko, and the unique experiences he relates, Ichiko’s mind and worldview broaden to expand her thinking, a reflection of his casual yet infectious influence. Both Ichiko and Eroshenko exhibit some frustrating quirks of character and repeated tendencies toward self-sabotage that undermine their success and happiness in pursuits both for the greater societal collective and in their personal lives. As a work of historical fiction, the afterword offers a concise way to wrap up the lives of the relevant or notable people included within the narrative whose stories and lives were expanded upon and provides references for further exploration for those curious to dig deeper.
*I received a copy of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review as requested by the author.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
In Tokyo in 1915, reporter Kamichika Ichiko attends a salon where she meets Vasily Eroshenko, a blind Ukranian, who stands out, not simply because of his physical features distinguishing him from those around him but because of his adeptness and ability to speak a variety of languages and the great enthusiasm he exudes while advocating for the progression of political and social freedoms for all people. Through the connections forged in meetings among other similarly-minded individuals, the politics of revolution and change are presented through art, in the form of writing stories published in magazines, spreading an impassioned message and stance on activism in pursuit of those freedoms. As Ichiko endeavors to further her own ambitions to help progress women’s bodily autonomy and ability to seek free love, however it may be defined, she also feels drawn to Eroshenko and assist him in getting his political fables published, which helps them form a relationship that's filled with highs and lows, yet always seeks toward a mutual understanding. With Eroshenko’s popularity growing among the people, he becomes more outspoken about his views, capturing the attention of authorities, who increasingly cannot abide the disruptive ideals being disseminated and take action to remove his problematic meddling from the equation. Tensions rise in the nation, and within the interpersonal dynamics, driving actions and reactions fracturing them in ways that may drive them apart despite having similar goals they’re working toward.
Easily depicting the existence of the political within art and that art is often political, this story builds the tension of an impending revolution while placing an emphasis upon relationships to provide focus and even more deeply humanize the situation at hand and to further fan the flame burning to incite action as well as exemplify the freedoms sought and fought for. Presenting Ichiko’s perspective of the slowly evolving events over the course of two years, there’s a building to the tension in gradual states with the facets of personalities revealed to more deeply explain their motivation toward action; through her interactions with Eroshenko, and the unique experiences he relates, Ichiko’s mind and worldview broaden to expand her thinking, a reflection of his casual yet infectious influence. Both Ichiko and Eroshenko exhibit some frustrating quirks of character and repeated tendencies toward self-sabotage that undermine their success and happiness in pursuits both for the greater societal collective and in their personal lives. As a work of historical fiction, the afterword offers a concise way to wrap up the lives of the relevant or notable people included within the narrative whose stories and lives were expanded upon and provides references for further exploration for those curious to dig deeper.
*I received a copy of this book via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review as requested by the author.
January 26, 2025
Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this book down! I immediately fell in love with the sparkling young heroine—courageous, kind, and yearning for connection. Her fight for love and recognition was heartbreaking, and as she got swept up in the thrilling events of the story, I was right there with her.
The novel is rich in historical detail, immersing the reader in early 20th-century Japan. The vivid descriptions of speeches, political upheaval, customs, and places paint a picture so lifelike that it felt as though I was marching alongside the characters. The story centers around a political discourse that, while deeply rooted in the time and place it’s set, feels remarkably relevant today.
A truly outstanding historical novel!
The novel is rich in historical detail, immersing the reader in early 20th-century Japan. The vivid descriptions of speeches, political upheaval, customs, and places paint a picture so lifelike that it felt as though I was marching alongside the characters. The story centers around a political discourse that, while deeply rooted in the time and place it’s set, feels remarkably relevant today.
A truly outstanding historical novel!
Did Not Finish
March 29, 2025I decided to DNF the book at 37%, after about 135 pages, on 3/17/25.
I explained why in this post:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/03/23/...
I explained why in this post:
https://wordsandpeace.com/2025/03/23/...
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews