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La llegenda de Yasuke: el samurai africà
El 1579, després d’una llarga travessia en vaixell plena d’adversitats, un esclau africà d’aspecte imponent arriba a terres japoneses. Segrestat del seu poble natal quan era un nen, venut a mercenaris i condemnat a lluitar en nombroses batalles, el jove serà ofert com a tracte diplomàtic davant la figura més poderosa del país, el dàimio Oda Nobunaga. Tot i que provenen de mons molt diferents, els dos homes establiran una relació de respecte i fidelitat llegendària, i la insòlita capacitat del jove de protegir el seu nou senyor d’amenaces tant militars com polítiques el convertirà en el primer samurai de la història nascut a l’estranger i l’únic d’ascendència africana.
Craig Shreve dona vida a un heroi oblidat combinant amb mestria una emocionant trama d’aventures amb un ric rerefons històric. La llegenda de el samurai africà ens porta des d’èpiques escenes de batalla fins a una profunda exploració de les tensions entre Orient i Occident, així com de la creació del Japó modern. Amb un estil captivador i un protagonista únic, aquesta obra es converteix en una lectura addictiva.
Craig Shreve dona vida a un heroi oblidat combinant amb mestria una emocionant trama d’aventures amb un ric rerefons històric. La llegenda de el samurai africà ens porta des d’èpiques escenes de batalla fins a una profunda exploració de les tensions entre Orient i Occident, així com de la creació del Japó modern. Amb un estil captivador i un protagonista únic, aquesta obra es converteix en una lectura addictiva.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2023
101 people are currently reading
5127 people want to read
About the author
Craig Shreve
3 books52 followersMy name is Craig Shreve. I was born and raised in North Buxton, Ontario, a small town that has been recognized by the Canadian government as a National Historic Site due to its former status as a popular terminus on the Underground Railroad, the system of routes and safe houses that assisted slaves escaping from the southern states.
From a young age I wanted to be a writer, but over the years pragmatism won out and I instead studied Computer Science at the University of Guelph. After graduating, I continued to write as a hobby, but I felt that I did not have enough life experiences. I set out to rectify that, which led me to a passion for extreme activities – skydiving, hang-gliding, bungy-jumping, rock-climbing, caving, rapelling, Running with the Bulls in Pamplona, tobogganing down the side of a volcano, and sand-boarding in the Atacama desert. Along the way I met people who were involved with humanitarian travel, and they infected me with the volunteering bug. I helped build homes in Honduras, Kenya, Guatemala, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Chile, El Salvador and Bolivia and I have been touched by the families that I have been able to work with.
Throughout this, I wrote. I managed to get some small pieces published in Confluence and Reflections, before enrolling in Humber College’s Creative Writing program in 2008. In 2010, my first novel-length manuscript was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award. My debut novel, One Night in Mississippi was released in February 2015 from Dundurn Press. My second novel, The African Samurai, will be released on Aug 1, 2023 from Simon and Schuster in the US and Canada, with international editions to follow.
I currently live in Toronto, Ontario.
From a young age I wanted to be a writer, but over the years pragmatism won out and I instead studied Computer Science at the University of Guelph. After graduating, I continued to write as a hobby, but I felt that I did not have enough life experiences. I set out to rectify that, which led me to a passion for extreme activities – skydiving, hang-gliding, bungy-jumping, rock-climbing, caving, rapelling, Running with the Bulls in Pamplona, tobogganing down the side of a volcano, and sand-boarding in the Atacama desert. Along the way I met people who were involved with humanitarian travel, and they infected me with the volunteering bug. I helped build homes in Honduras, Kenya, Guatemala, Paraguay, Nicaragua, Chile, El Salvador and Bolivia and I have been touched by the families that I have been able to work with.
Throughout this, I wrote. I managed to get some small pieces published in Confluence and Reflections, before enrolling in Humber College’s Creative Writing program in 2008. In 2010, my first novel-length manuscript was a semi-finalist in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award. My debut novel, One Night in Mississippi was released in February 2015 from Dundurn Press. My second novel, The African Samurai, will be released on Aug 1, 2023 from Simon and Schuster in the US and Canada, with international editions to follow.
I currently live in Toronto, Ontario.
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December 13, 2023A historical novel about Yasuke, the African samurai. This guy really existed--a massive (6'1 in the 1500s!) Black African who came to Japan with the Jesuits and became a salaried, sword-bearing retainer to Oda Nobunaga--but very little information survives, so the author has used his imagination pretty comprehensively. In this novel Yasuke (Japanese for Isaac, which was the name the Portuguese gave him, his own name and origins haven't survived) was taken as a slave, brutally trained as a fighter, and becomes one of Nobunaga's most trusted lieutenants and a samurai (which is kind of unlikely as that was a caste as well as a job, but we are telling a story here).
It's a great story. I really enjoyed the rats in a sack politics of Japan at the time, and the depiction of Nobunaga, the first Great Unifier, is terrific at conveying the contradictions of his character: ruthless and occasionally horrific brutality, honour, and charisma that made him a man people wanted to follow. Yasuke's narrative is pretty bare-bones, but I think that's intentional: it's clear that what we have here is an emotionally destroyed, deeply traumatised man who slowly regains a sense of self, self-respect and identity via his (chosen) life in Nobunaga's service. That's more something we infer than something we get to delve deeply into, but I'm not sure how else this would work in first person without getting into therapy talk.
I don't know nearly enough about the period to comment on accuracy, but I found this highly readable, and an intriguing imagining of a possible past, even if it isn't likely to be terribly near the actual facts. This is why fiction is better than life.
It's a great story. I really enjoyed the rats in a sack politics of Japan at the time, and the depiction of Nobunaga, the first Great Unifier, is terrific at conveying the contradictions of his character: ruthless and occasionally horrific brutality, honour, and charisma that made him a man people wanted to follow. Yasuke's narrative is pretty bare-bones, but I think that's intentional: it's clear that what we have here is an emotionally destroyed, deeply traumatised man who slowly regains a sense of self, self-respect and identity via his (chosen) life in Nobunaga's service. That's more something we infer than something we get to delve deeply into, but I'm not sure how else this would work in first person without getting into therapy talk.
I don't know nearly enough about the period to comment on accuracy, but I found this highly readable, and an intriguing imagining of a possible past, even if it isn't likely to be terribly near the actual facts. This is why fiction is better than life.
August 21, 2023
4.0 Stars
This was an incredibly engrossing story. I have a fascination with historical Asia and this novel hit the right spot.
Inspired by real history, this novel offered an incredible story with some memorable characters.
My only criticism of this novel was the back and forth of the timeline. The chapters go back and forth between the past and present. I appreciated the coming of age story providing the backstory of this young African man. I just wish the story had been told in a streamlined chronological order. I loved the later scenes and found myself a touch frustrated when the story kept cutting to the past.
Otherwise I adored this novel and would highly recommend it. I finished the story and immediately wanted to read it again. This was such an emotional story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an incredibly engrossing story. I have a fascination with historical Asia and this novel hit the right spot.
Inspired by real history, this novel offered an incredible story with some memorable characters.
My only criticism of this novel was the back and forth of the timeline. The chapters go back and forth between the past and present. I appreciated the coming of age story providing the backstory of this young African man. I just wish the story had been told in a streamlined chronological order. I loved the later scenes and found myself a touch frustrated when the story kept cutting to the past.
Otherwise I adored this novel and would highly recommend it. I finished the story and immediately wanted to read it again. This was such an emotional story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 1, 2023
Evocative, suspenseful, and intense!
The African Samurai is a captivating, immersive, tragic tale that sweeps you away to Africa, India, and Japan in the late sixteenth century and into the life of a young African boy who, after being purchased by Portuguese mercenaries and forced to fight in the Indian wars finds himself on Japanese soil where he manages to ascend from a simple soldier to a revered samurai under the command of infamous warlord, Oda Nobunaga.
The prose is vivid and rich. The characters are haunted, scarred, and vulnerable. And the plot is an absorbing tale of all the hopes, fears, sacrifices, struggles, abuse, treachery, and violence faced by those taken, sold, and enslaved against their will.
Overall, The African Samurai is, ultimately, a story about strength, bravery, hope, heroism, survival, power, savagery, violence, ancient Japanese culture, and the unimaginable horrors and injustices of slavery. It’s an atmospheric, compelling, insightful tale by Shreve that does a beautiful job of highlighting his impressive research and considerable knowledge of this renowned iconic figure, Yasuke, who was the first and only samurai to ever be of African descent.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The African Samurai is a captivating, immersive, tragic tale that sweeps you away to Africa, India, and Japan in the late sixteenth century and into the life of a young African boy who, after being purchased by Portuguese mercenaries and forced to fight in the Indian wars finds himself on Japanese soil where he manages to ascend from a simple soldier to a revered samurai under the command of infamous warlord, Oda Nobunaga.
The prose is vivid and rich. The characters are haunted, scarred, and vulnerable. And the plot is an absorbing tale of all the hopes, fears, sacrifices, struggles, abuse, treachery, and violence faced by those taken, sold, and enslaved against their will.
Overall, The African Samurai is, ultimately, a story about strength, bravery, hope, heroism, survival, power, savagery, violence, ancient Japanese culture, and the unimaginable horrors and injustices of slavery. It’s an atmospheric, compelling, insightful tale by Shreve that does a beautiful job of highlighting his impressive research and considerable knowledge of this renowned iconic figure, Yasuke, who was the first and only samurai to ever be of African descent.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2023
Link to my review: https://youtu.be/Xo7mJEPy1wM
4.25/4.5.
This was an excellent book retelling Yakuze’s journey to becoming Nobunaga’s trusted right hand. Loved so many things about this book.
Review to come on my channel soon.
I want to say a huge thank you to Craig and Melanie for getting me an e-arc!
4.25/4.5.
This was an excellent book retelling Yakuze’s journey to becoming Nobunaga’s trusted right hand. Loved so many things about this book.
Review to come on my channel soon.
I want to say a huge thank you to Craig and Melanie for getting me an e-arc!
August 9, 2023
Short version: this reads like a basic screenplay, not a novel.
Long version:
While I can appreciate that a historical African Samurai would make a fascinating character study, this book is far from anything remotely in depth. It is such a surface level treatment that felt more like a list of occurrences than a journey. There is no nuance at all.
There is also no real plot beyond a man being sold to one group than another and he learns to fight. Then, in a very problematic turn, the author seems to be making a case for finding "meaning" or "purpose" in excelling at servitude?!?! I just didn't buy it. Because there is no depth of feeling in this book (despite some horrific actions), I fail to believe most of the reflection ascribed to this samurai.
It is almost as though the author tried to imbue an enigmatic historical figure with an internal life but could not commit to the messiness of real emotion. Instead, we are left with platitudes and binary thinking.
The writing is basic at best and contrived at worst. There were some very strange anachronisms and very few details that anchored readers in 1579. It felt more like 1779, if that.
I was very surprised that this is a second novel because it lacks a clear authorial voice and the writing is very uneven. I do not recommend.
Long version:
While I can appreciate that a historical African Samurai would make a fascinating character study, this book is far from anything remotely in depth. It is such a surface level treatment that felt more like a list of occurrences than a journey. There is no nuance at all.
There is also no real plot beyond a man being sold to one group than another and he learns to fight. Then, in a very problematic turn, the author seems to be making a case for finding "meaning" or "purpose" in excelling at servitude?!?! I just didn't buy it. Because there is no depth of feeling in this book (despite some horrific actions), I fail to believe most of the reflection ascribed to this samurai.
It is almost as though the author tried to imbue an enigmatic historical figure with an internal life but could not commit to the messiness of real emotion. Instead, we are left with platitudes and binary thinking.
The writing is basic at best and contrived at worst. There were some very strange anachronisms and very few details that anchored readers in 1579. It felt more like 1779, if that.
I was very surprised that this is a second novel because it lacks a clear authorial voice and the writing is very uneven. I do not recommend.
May 28, 2025
I know nothing about Japanese historical, so I have no idea about the historical accuracy of this book. However, I found the writing simplistic. It is difficult creating an interesting character when the person has little internal life, and no agency. The only decisions he gets to make is which sword to use. There was no rebellion in this man at all. I was bored by the parts of the book that dealt with combat training. It wasn’t written badly, I just wasn’t interested. My guess is that a nonfiction account of his life and this period would be more intriguing.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
September 29, 2023
"The African Samurai" by Craig Shreve tells the story of Yasuke, an African man who was enslaved as a child and eventually brought to Japan during a Jesuit mission. Given as a gift by the Jesuits to curry favour with the powerful Oda Nobunaga, he ended up being trained as a samurai and acting as a personal bodyguard in Nobunaga's court. This book is based on a true story documented in Japanese records from the 1500s during the Sengoku period and tells the fascinating story of one man's experience at a critical time in Japanese history.
Told in a non-linear style, the story alternates between Yasuke's experiences in Japan and flashbacks to his childhood growing up in southern Africa, his time enslaved and forced to fight in India, as well as the years he spent in Europe with the Jesuits. As the reader learns more and more details of his history through these flashbacks, he becomes an even more complex and sympathetic character. There are a lot of musings in this book about the universality of humanity mixed in with the more dramatic action sequences.
My only complaint with this book is that at times there are overly long passages describing the hierarchy and political mechanizations of Japanese nobles. While I didn't know much about the time period, so appreciated the background information, I think it could have been woven a little more organically into the story rather than as lengthy info dumps.
Also I would give a warning for a number of quite graphic passages both related to war/conflict and horrific treatment towards prisoners and enslaved people. While this is certainly an accurate depiction of the brutality that people experienced, if you have a weak stomach for reading descriptions of violence, I would recommend giving this book a pass.
I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction readers looking for a story with a non-Western setting and a unique perspective on colonization and slavery. While there are many books that chronicle the experiences of enslaved people in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, this is one of the first fiction books that I have read that focuses on the Indian Ocean slave trade which made Yasuke's story very interesting and informative to follow. With the story spanning three continents, I came away from my reading experience feeling like I had learned a lot about events that occurred in 16th century history outside of Europe.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
Told in a non-linear style, the story alternates between Yasuke's experiences in Japan and flashbacks to his childhood growing up in southern Africa, his time enslaved and forced to fight in India, as well as the years he spent in Europe with the Jesuits. As the reader learns more and more details of his history through these flashbacks, he becomes an even more complex and sympathetic character. There are a lot of musings in this book about the universality of humanity mixed in with the more dramatic action sequences.
My only complaint with this book is that at times there are overly long passages describing the hierarchy and political mechanizations of Japanese nobles. While I didn't know much about the time period, so appreciated the background information, I think it could have been woven a little more organically into the story rather than as lengthy info dumps.
Also I would give a warning for a number of quite graphic passages both related to war/conflict and horrific treatment towards prisoners and enslaved people. While this is certainly an accurate depiction of the brutality that people experienced, if you have a weak stomach for reading descriptions of violence, I would recommend giving this book a pass.
I would definitely recommend this book to historical fiction readers looking for a story with a non-Western setting and a unique perspective on colonization and slavery. While there are many books that chronicle the experiences of enslaved people in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, this is one of the first fiction books that I have read that focuses on the Indian Ocean slave trade which made Yasuke's story very interesting and informative to follow. With the story spanning three continents, I came away from my reading experience feeling like I had learned a lot about events that occurred in 16th century history outside of Europe.
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
July 1, 2023
Wow. I loved this book. I've heard about Yasuke multiple times, but I've never dived deeply into his story (I'm not counting the Yasuke anime on Netflix, sorry not sorry). I'm so glad I ended up stumbling upon this book by Craig Shreve, because this was masterful!
It's hard to pick what I loved the most about this book, but I think I'm able to narrow it down to three things; Yasuke's characterization and development, his friendship with Nobunaga, and all the rich details.
I loved Yasuke and rooted for him right away. What a gentle giant. Shreve did an excellent job portraying the complexities of Yasuke's emotions because I felt them. When he was hurt, so was I. Seeing what he went through made me want to yell! His good sense of humour made me smile (I loved his banter with Ranmaru, Ogoru and Jingorou), and I worried for him.
Nobunaga, was another excellent character. I was wary of him immediately, but the bond that he and Yasuke forged?! It really touched me. There was a scene in the book that brought tears to my eyes. When Nobunaga bowed after Yasuke performed for him in the rhino mask, I was amazed. Yasuke took such a risk by showing Nobunaga a precious part of his culture. I was so afraid Nobunaga might have derided him but he bowed out of respect! Seeing the respect between the representatives of two cultures really moved me.
The details peppered throughout this novel were excellent. I felt like I had been transported back in time. Little details like what a tea ceremony is like, the mythology and stories of Mozambique and Japan, what samurai armour feels like, etc. The novel really came to life!The political machinations went over my head but I wasn't entirely lost because of an otome game I played that depicted events from the Heian and Sengoku period (thank you, Birushana and Nightshade LMAO).
Also Craig Shreve is Canadian of black descent. I can't help but feel pride for a fellow Black Canadian. This book was excellent! Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
It's hard to pick what I loved the most about this book, but I think I'm able to narrow it down to three things; Yasuke's characterization and development, his friendship with Nobunaga, and all the rich details.
I loved Yasuke and rooted for him right away. What a gentle giant. Shreve did an excellent job portraying the complexities of Yasuke's emotions because I felt them. When he was hurt, so was I. Seeing what he went through made me want to yell! His good sense of humour made me smile (I loved his banter with Ranmaru, Ogoru and Jingorou), and I worried for him.
Nobunaga, was another excellent character. I was wary of him immediately, but the bond that he and Yasuke forged?! It really touched me. There was a scene in the book that brought tears to my eyes. When Nobunaga bowed after Yasuke performed for him in the rhino mask, I was amazed. Yasuke took such a risk by showing Nobunaga a precious part of his culture. I was so afraid Nobunaga might have derided him but he bowed out of respect! Seeing the respect between the representatives of two cultures really moved me.
The details peppered throughout this novel were excellent. I felt like I had been transported back in time. Little details like what a tea ceremony is like, the mythology and stories of Mozambique and Japan, what samurai armour feels like, etc. The novel really came to life!The political machinations went over my head but I wasn't entirely lost because of an otome game I played that depicted events from the Heian and Sengoku period (thank you, Birushana and Nightshade LMAO).
Also Craig Shreve is Canadian of black descent. I can't help but feel pride for a fellow Black Canadian. This book was excellent! Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
My love for samurai history began when I watched Tom Cruise’s “The Last Samurai”. I promptly googled to see if the movie was based on a true story, which made me scroll across Yasuke, the black samurai. Unfortunately there is very little material to go off of in his life since tribal cultures of any kind use oral histories instead of written, which obviously are going to be skewed or vanished after 500+ years.
This book is pretty entertaining but it has several historical inaccuracies and information which are entirely speculation or imagination, which the author to his credit tells you at the end of the book. The author imagines what Yakuze would have thought or gone through coming from an African tribe, going to war for the Portuguese against the Ottomans, being the guard of Jesuit priest, being a samurai and friend to one the most famous Japanese warlords, to finally having freedom.
SOFT SPOILERS:
Some of my biggest issues with the historical inaccuracies are the fact that he gets kidnapped by Portuguese (white people) and enslaved. That narrative fits perfectly with Hollywood movies and pop culture, it’s definitely possible but knowing how slavery works in Africa it’s far more likely that he was enslaved by Africans and then sold to the Portuguese but there is no evidence to back any of these claims up.
There are also several instances of historical people dying and the author has depicted them dying at an incorrect time or the person who killed someone was not actually the person who did it.
My love for samurai history began when I watched Tom Cruise’s “The Last Samurai”. I promptly googled to see if the movie was based on a true story, which made me scroll across Yasuke, the black samurai. Unfortunately there is very little material to go off of in his life since tribal cultures of any kind use oral histories instead of written, which obviously are going to be skewed or vanished after 500+ years.
This book is pretty entertaining but it has several historical inaccuracies and information which are entirely speculation or imagination, which the author to his credit tells you at the end of the book. The author imagines what Yakuze would have thought or gone through coming from an African tribe, going to war for the Portuguese against the Ottomans, being the guard of Jesuit priest, being a samurai and friend to one the most famous Japanese warlords, to finally having freedom.
SOFT SPOILERS:
Some of my biggest issues with the historical inaccuracies are the fact that he gets kidnapped by Portuguese (white people) and enslaved. That narrative fits perfectly with Hollywood movies and pop culture, it’s definitely possible but knowing how slavery works in Africa it’s far more likely that he was enslaved by Africans and then sold to the Portuguese but there is no evidence to back any of these claims up.
There are also several instances of historical people dying and the author has depicted them dying at an incorrect time or the person who killed someone was not actually the person who did it.
October 15, 2023
9/10, επειδή πολύ απλά...
Ιαπωνία 🇯🇵 = Έρωτας 💞
Ένα απολαυστικό μυθιστόρημα που βασίζεται σε αληθινά γεγονότα που διαδραματίζονται τον 16ο αιώνα. Η ιστορία ξετυλίσσεται μέσα από τα μάτια του ΓΙΑΣΟΥΚΕ, ενός Αφρικανού άντρα ο οποίος παιδί ακόμη απήχθη από λαθρέμπορους, και μέσα από πολλές περιπέτειες φτάνει στην Ιαπωνία και καταλήγει να γίνει σαμουράι! Εξαιρετικά τα flash back του ήρωα όπου βλέπουμε τι έχει υποστεί σαν σκλάβος, και τι αναγκάστηκε να κάνει ώστε να επιβιώσει. Το κακό με αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ότι ήταν...λίγο! Αν είχε μια μεγαλύτερη εμβάθυνση στην ιαπωνική κουλτούρα, θα έπαιρνε ένα 10αράκι!
Ιαπωνία 🇯🇵 = Έρωτας 💞
Ένα απολαυστικό μυθιστόρημα που βασίζεται σε αληθινά γεγονότα που διαδραματίζονται τον 16ο αιώνα. Η ιστορία ξετυλίσσεται μέσα από τα μάτια του ΓΙΑΣΟΥΚΕ, ενός Αφρικανού άντρα ο οποίος παιδί ακόμη απήχθη από λαθρέμπορους, και μέσα από πολλές περιπέτειες φτάνει στην Ιαπωνία και καταλήγει να γίνει σαμουράι! Εξαιρετικά τα flash back του ήρωα όπου βλέπουμε τι έχει υποστεί σαν σκλάβος, και τι αναγκάστηκε να κάνει ώστε να επιβιώσει. Το κακό με αυτό το βιβλίο είναι ότι ήταν...λίγο! Αν είχε μια μεγαλύτερη εμβάθυνση στην ιαπωνική κουλτούρα, θα έπαιρνε ένα 10αράκι!
October 27, 2023
4.5 estrelas!
ADOREI este romance histórico!!
Tem tudo aquilo que se quer num livro deste género! Ação, conflito constante, detalhes e descrições riquíssimas e diálogos muito verosímeis.
Não podia ter corrido melhor! Muito muito bom 🤩
ADOREI este romance histórico!!
Tem tudo aquilo que se quer num livro deste género! Ação, conflito constante, detalhes e descrições riquíssimas e diálogos muito verosímeis.
Não podia ter corrido melhor! Muito muito bom 🤩
September 24, 2024
Idk, das hat mich von vorne bis hinten nicht berührt. Viele Aspekte wurden berührt, nichts ging tief. Mit dem Prota bin ich nicht warm geworden, das Ende war super kitschig, und insgesamt hat es sich nicht authentisch angefühlt. Ich kann gar nicht sagen, dass es schlecht geschrieben oder konstruiert war, nur einfach ... für mich uninteressant. So uninteressant, dass ich nicht mal in dieser Rezi Lust habe, tiefgehender über das Buch zu schreiben.
April 16, 2025
Africký samuraj je kniha napsaná podle skutečné postavy, která žila v 16. století. Ano, jde o zajímavý příběh, ale kniha je vlastně takový příběh a pro mně osobně to bylo něco jako studování více rozepsané wikipedie. Nic víc, nic méně. Takže ano, číst to šlo, četlo se to rychle, ale že bych z toho byla na větvi, bylo by to jako román .. ani ne. Takže za mně prostě mech no.
September 26, 2023
This book was great. I think Yasuke is an awesome character to showcase in a novel and Shreve did an excellent job making his voice very distinct and the story emotional.
The book is told in alternating chapters for a large portion of it, with Yasuke's time in Japan with Nobunaga Oda and when he is first taken as a slave. The flashbacks were less interesting to me, but always provided relevant poignancy to the Japan timeline.
For a book about samurai, I expected more action, but Shreve kept a reserved hand here. The action is good, but it's way more about character introspection and Yasuke learning who he is and how Japan works, as well as his place there.
Really liked the ending! Highly recommend checking this out.
The book is told in alternating chapters for a large portion of it, with Yasuke's time in Japan with Nobunaga Oda and when he is first taken as a slave. The flashbacks were less interesting to me, but always provided relevant poignancy to the Japan timeline.
For a book about samurai, I expected more action, but Shreve kept a reserved hand here. The action is good, but it's way more about character introspection and Yasuke learning who he is and how Japan works, as well as his place there.
Really liked the ending! Highly recommend checking this out.
July 23, 2023
At 12 the boy who would be known as Yasu a.k.a. Isaac was taken from his African village after seeing all the adults slaughtered it would be a memory he would never forget he was then sold to fight for countries he had previously never heard of eventually ending up being the bodyguard for the second highest man in the Catholic Church. When we meet him he is on his way to bring goods and supplies to Japan but his story would not be one of just a bodyguard bringing supplies it would diverge into an epic tale of friendship loyalty and ultimately betrayal this is a great book about a figure in history I knew nothing about and think the author did a wonderful job putting all the pieces together to make an epic story. Yessu’s The story is a great intriguing tale of turning lemons into lemonade and always doing your best despite the circumstances I love stories like this and I’m so glad I stumbled onto this one. This is a great book and one I highly recommend I want to think Net Galley and Simon and Schuster Canada for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
August 12, 2023
Issac has been a slave all of his life. Taken from his home when he was young, he was forced to fight and kill others. It is only when upon a diplomatic mission to Japan that he is traded by his old masters to the Warlord Nobunaga and renamed Yasuke, that he will never know what it's like to be an equal in men's eyes and forever as a slave. Will he continue to feel this way? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a pretty good historical fiction novel about the Japanese Samurai and more. If you like these types of books, then be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books and eBooks are sold.
This was a pretty good historical fiction novel about the Japanese Samurai and more. If you like these types of books, then be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever books and eBooks are sold.
December 8, 2023
Um livro com uma base de investigação fantástica. Baseado em factos reais, leva-nos pelas malhas da História de uma forma muito acessível.
Gostei muito de ver o desenvolvimento de Yasuke. O seu crescimento e todo o background que o perseguia. Uma história dura mas impressionante.
Um livro que nos leva a viajar pelo passado, pela sombra da escravatura, de África ao Japão, até aos respeitados e míticos samurais.
Uma leitura envolvente e que me cativou do início ao fim. Gostei muito.
Gostei muito de ver o desenvolvimento de Yasuke. O seu crescimento e todo o background que o perseguia. Uma história dura mas impressionante.
Um livro que nos leva a viajar pelo passado, pela sombra da escravatura, de África ao Japão, até aos respeitados e míticos samurais.
Uma leitura envolvente e que me cativou do início ao fim. Gostei muito.
February 14, 2024
Not completely unreadable but difficult to follow with flat characters and no real sense of place. I'm wishing I'd read the nonfiction book instead.
September 24, 2024
A captivating window into Feudal Japan and how a man like Yasuke could have possibly been accepted there, slightly brought down by frequent flashbacks and an underdeveloped sequence of events towards the end.
March 13, 2025
Me ha dejado un poco vacía al terminaelo.
Con ganas de saber más.
He disfrutado mucho de la historia, sobre todo sabiendo que está basada en hechos reales y documentados.
Yasuke, su historia, su dolor y su forma de sobrellevar todo lo que iba sucediendo me han cautivado.
5 estrellas.
Con ganas de saber más.
He disfrutado mucho de la historia, sobre todo sabiendo que está basada en hechos reales y documentados.
Yasuke, su historia, su dolor y su forma de sobrellevar todo lo que iba sucediendo me han cautivado.
5 estrellas.
August 8, 2023
I want to thank Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The African Samurai. All opinions presented here are solely mine.
CW/TW: torture, graphic violence, murder, sexual assault, death
The African Samurai is a very immersive read. It is easy to find yourself sucked into the book. By the end, you will be emotionally connected to the characters, all of them.
Admittedly, the biggest issue with the story is the amount of detailed, graphic violence. While I was not turned off while reading those scenes, I had to stop reading a few times to process what I had just read. On the flip side, the book is set in a place and time that saw centuries of war.
I did find the tale of Askue eye-opening as it explores slavery from the point of view of the slave. When we first met Asuke, he was a child in Africa. We follow him through his training, even though that is often told through flashbacks and on his travels to and around Japan. He constantly questions who he is, where he came from, and what his future holds for him.
I have seen in a couple of reviews that people were frustrated with the historical inaccuracies in the story. Shreve admits that he moved a few things around to make the story flow easier. Again, he also states he left some people out of the story to make it flow a bit easier. Another reason there may be historical inaccuracies is the lack of reference material. The events discussed in The African Samurai occurred in the late 1500s, and most of the history has been lost to time.
Do you enjoy reading books set in Japan? Or do you enjoy reading books based on real events? Then you should give The African Samurai a read!
CW/TW: torture, graphic violence, murder, sexual assault, death
The African Samurai is a very immersive read. It is easy to find yourself sucked into the book. By the end, you will be emotionally connected to the characters, all of them.
Admittedly, the biggest issue with the story is the amount of detailed, graphic violence. While I was not turned off while reading those scenes, I had to stop reading a few times to process what I had just read. On the flip side, the book is set in a place and time that saw centuries of war.
I did find the tale of Askue eye-opening as it explores slavery from the point of view of the slave. When we first met Asuke, he was a child in Africa. We follow him through his training, even though that is often told through flashbacks and on his travels to and around Japan. He constantly questions who he is, where he came from, and what his future holds for him.
I have seen in a couple of reviews that people were frustrated with the historical inaccuracies in the story. Shreve admits that he moved a few things around to make the story flow easier. Again, he also states he left some people out of the story to make it flow a bit easier. Another reason there may be historical inaccuracies is the lack of reference material. The events discussed in The African Samurai occurred in the late 1500s, and most of the history has been lost to time.
Do you enjoy reading books set in Japan? Or do you enjoy reading books based on real events? Then you should give The African Samurai a read!
September 30, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rezension zu African Samurai von Craig Shreve
Dieses Buch hat mich von der ersten Seite an gefesselt. African Samurai erzählt auf ruhige, aber zugleich eindringliche Weise die Geschichte eines jungen Afrikaners, der aus der Sklaverei heraus einen außergewöhnlichen Weg beschreitet – bis er schließlich als Yasuke in Japan zum Samurai wird.
Die Erzählweise ist faszinierend: zurückhaltend, ausgewogen und treffsicher, genau wie man es mit dem Bild der Samurai verbindet. Dabei ist die Geschichte nicht nur hart und martialisch, sondern auch voller Tiefe und Würde. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich, dass es gleichzeitig ein Entwicklungsroman ist – wir begleiten den Protagonisten auf seiner Reise, bei der er nicht nur sich selbst, sondern auch seine Bestimmung findet.
Das Buch bietet eindrucksvolle Einblicke in die Kultur und Geschichte Japans, während es zugleich kurze, aber prägnante Verbindungen zu Afrika im 16. Jahrhundert herstellt. Manche Szenen haben mir regelrecht Gänsehaut bereitet, denn es geht um Werte wie Ehre, Tapferkeit und Loyalität – Dinge, die heute oft in den Hintergrund rücken.
Für mich war dieser ruhige und zugleich bewegende Roman eine echte Überraschung. Ich habe nicht erwartet, dass er mich so tief berühren würde. Am Ende blieb das Gefühl, eine unvergessliche literarische Reise erlebt zu haben.
Es gibt einfach Bücher, die ruhig geschrieben sind, aber in dieser Ruhe wirklich ihre Kraft liegt und mich deswegen total beeindrucken. Ein anderes Beispiel dafür ist „Der Untergang der Wager“, auch hier ging es mir genauso. Dies ist wirklich eine Kunst, wenn man unaufgeregt und gleichzeitig so fesselnd schreiben kann. Unglaublich. Vor allem unterstreicht dieser schlichte Stil natürlich auch die ganze Thematik im Buch um die Kultur der Samurai.
Rezension zu African Samurai von Craig Shreve
Dieses Buch hat mich von der ersten Seite an gefesselt. African Samurai erzählt auf ruhige, aber zugleich eindringliche Weise die Geschichte eines jungen Afrikaners, der aus der Sklaverei heraus einen außergewöhnlichen Weg beschreitet – bis er schließlich als Yasuke in Japan zum Samurai wird.
Die Erzählweise ist faszinierend: zurückhaltend, ausgewogen und treffsicher, genau wie man es mit dem Bild der Samurai verbindet. Dabei ist die Geschichte nicht nur hart und martialisch, sondern auch voller Tiefe und Würde. Besonders beeindruckt hat mich, dass es gleichzeitig ein Entwicklungsroman ist – wir begleiten den Protagonisten auf seiner Reise, bei der er nicht nur sich selbst, sondern auch seine Bestimmung findet.
Das Buch bietet eindrucksvolle Einblicke in die Kultur und Geschichte Japans, während es zugleich kurze, aber prägnante Verbindungen zu Afrika im 16. Jahrhundert herstellt. Manche Szenen haben mir regelrecht Gänsehaut bereitet, denn es geht um Werte wie Ehre, Tapferkeit und Loyalität – Dinge, die heute oft in den Hintergrund rücken.
Für mich war dieser ruhige und zugleich bewegende Roman eine echte Überraschung. Ich habe nicht erwartet, dass er mich so tief berühren würde. Am Ende blieb das Gefühl, eine unvergessliche literarische Reise erlebt zu haben.
Es gibt einfach Bücher, die ruhig geschrieben sind, aber in dieser Ruhe wirklich ihre Kraft liegt und mich deswegen total beeindrucken. Ein anderes Beispiel dafür ist „Der Untergang der Wager“, auch hier ging es mir genauso. Dies ist wirklich eine Kunst, wenn man unaufgeregt und gleichzeitig so fesselnd schreiben kann. Unglaublich. Vor allem unterstreicht dieser schlichte Stil natürlich auch die ganze Thematik im Buch um die Kultur der Samurai.
May 2, 2023
AN INSIGHTFUL AND SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
The African Samurai touched me in unexpected ways. Craig Shreve did an amazing job taking us along for the journey of Yasuke's life. I felt his pain, his loss and his humiliation. He was stolen from Africa as a boy, traded like property and treated with little regard, much less any humanity. I wanted him to know freedom like it was my own at stake. His imposing physical strength is but a shadow compared to the strength of his character. His content is replaced with the steely will to survive, bolstered only by the fading memories of home and the love of his parents. After many years in servitude he finds himself in Japan and once again like a chameleon of survival he finds his way in their society. I do not want to share any spoilers because I want you to unwrap this story like a gift. It is a gift.
I did find myself a bit lost with all the names of the various warring factions in Japan. I was confused trying to follow who held which position, who was good or bad, who was an ally. I would suggest that is just my personal taste and interest and others would find quite vital to the story. I prefer to get into the mind of the protagonist to understand them.
I honestly wished the novel could have been longer - more of life in Africa, more descriptions of the landscape and life in his village. I wanted more of Yasuke in general. I enjoyed the descriptions of Japan's landscape and culture.
I look forward to more from Craig Shreve and am so glad to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and suspect this novel will do VERY well. Any author that can reduce me to tears and cause goose flesh while I am reading has me looking for everything else they have written and looking forward to their next project. I heard that it is going to be developed into a series/movie on Netflix and I will certainly be watching for it.
The African Samurai touched me in unexpected ways. Craig Shreve did an amazing job taking us along for the journey of Yasuke's life. I felt his pain, his loss and his humiliation. He was stolen from Africa as a boy, traded like property and treated with little regard, much less any humanity. I wanted him to know freedom like it was my own at stake. His imposing physical strength is but a shadow compared to the strength of his character. His content is replaced with the steely will to survive, bolstered only by the fading memories of home and the love of his parents. After many years in servitude he finds himself in Japan and once again like a chameleon of survival he finds his way in their society. I do not want to share any spoilers because I want you to unwrap this story like a gift. It is a gift.
I did find myself a bit lost with all the names of the various warring factions in Japan. I was confused trying to follow who held which position, who was good or bad, who was an ally. I would suggest that is just my personal taste and interest and others would find quite vital to the story. I prefer to get into the mind of the protagonist to understand them.
I honestly wished the novel could have been longer - more of life in Africa, more descriptions of the landscape and life in his village. I wanted more of Yasuke in general. I enjoyed the descriptions of Japan's landscape and culture.
I look forward to more from Craig Shreve and am so glad to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy and suspect this novel will do VERY well. Any author that can reduce me to tears and cause goose flesh while I am reading has me looking for everything else they have written and looking forward to their next project. I heard that it is going to be developed into a series/movie on Netflix and I will certainly be watching for it.
February 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, my only complaint is I wish there was more of it!
I believe the author was trying to mostly keep true to history and not take too many liberties there, which I do understand but I would have loved more of the characters, of the story. I would have loved to delve further into the situation in Japan and the complexities of the situation and characters, as well as more around Yasuke’s life there. However, when your only complaint is you just wanted more, you know it’s a good book!
I really loved how though the story is really focused on Yasuke arriving to Japan and how he became a samurai, we got flashbacks throughout to really understand why Yasuke is who he is and what his life had been before Japan. I found that structure had a great flow and really tapping into the readers emotions. The flashbacks make you feel heartbroken and angry, which really helped punctuate the beautiful moments in his experience in Japan, where Yasuke was finally free and valued and allowed himself to start healing. I did enjoy the ending, I wont spoil it but to me it was hopeful.
I love a good historical fiction, but usually I find books loosely based on history I know a bit about, and I was super excited to find this book on something I had never learned of before. Though I get the impression there’s not nearly enough on this African samurai in the historical resources we have, it makes me want to go learn more. Also always a plus to find a Canadian author, so as soon as I came across it I knew I’d have to give it a read and I’m so glad I did!
I believe the author was trying to mostly keep true to history and not take too many liberties there, which I do understand but I would have loved more of the characters, of the story. I would have loved to delve further into the situation in Japan and the complexities of the situation and characters, as well as more around Yasuke’s life there. However, when your only complaint is you just wanted more, you know it’s a good book!
I really loved how though the story is really focused on Yasuke arriving to Japan and how he became a samurai, we got flashbacks throughout to really understand why Yasuke is who he is and what his life had been before Japan. I found that structure had a great flow and really tapping into the readers emotions. The flashbacks make you feel heartbroken and angry, which really helped punctuate the beautiful moments in his experience in Japan, where Yasuke was finally free and valued and allowed himself to start healing. I did enjoy the ending, I wont spoil it but to me it was hopeful.
I love a good historical fiction, but usually I find books loosely based on history I know a bit about, and I was super excited to find this book on something I had never learned of before. Though I get the impression there’s not nearly enough on this African samurai in the historical resources we have, it makes me want to go learn more. Also always a plus to find a Canadian author, so as soon as I came across it I knew I’d have to give it a read and I’m so glad I did!
December 21, 2023
Beyond simple entertainment, I have no doubt that one of Shreve's main goals in writing The African Samurai was to remind white people that theirs is not the only history worth writing about. African history, Japanese history and - to a lesser degree - Indian and Ottoman history is just as, if not more, rich than the history read of in European textbooks. That, I believe, will be the major takeaway of any intelligent person reading this book.
Beyond it's literary value as a doorway into non-white history, The African Samurai is a rather interesting case study into writing a good "passive protagonist."
Yasuke (or Isaac as the Portuguese called him) spends most of the story waiting for someone else to make a decision on his behalf. A literal slave for the first half of the tale and then only a minor warrior in Oda Nobunaga's army for another large chunk of the second half, the reader shouldn't remain interested in his story. And yet, because of an excellent ensemble cast, I found myself becoming personally invested in his climb up the ranks of Oda's personal entourage.
Yasuke's plight is enthralling and tragic and helps cement The African Samurai's as one of my most surprisingly pleasant reads of 2023. A solid 4.25 out of 5.
P.S. If you don't already know how his story goes, read the book first. Don't spoil it for yourself because the ending is written excellently.
Beyond it's literary value as a doorway into non-white history, The African Samurai is a rather interesting case study into writing a good "passive protagonist."
Yasuke (or Isaac as the Portuguese called him) spends most of the story waiting for someone else to make a decision on his behalf. A literal slave for the first half of the tale and then only a minor warrior in Oda Nobunaga's army for another large chunk of the second half, the reader shouldn't remain interested in his story. And yet, because of an excellent ensemble cast, I found myself becoming personally invested in his climb up the ranks of Oda's personal entourage.
Yasuke's plight is enthralling and tragic and helps cement The African Samurai's as one of my most surprisingly pleasant reads of 2023. A solid 4.25 out of 5.
P.S. If you don't already know how his story goes, read the book first. Don't spoil it for yourself because the ending is written excellently.
August 15, 2023
The African Samurai is a historical fiction take on Yasuke, who was abducted from his village at the age of 12, trained as a soldier through the Portuguese naval forces, and eventually found himself in Japan, where he became the first African samurai. I will first say that I knew absolutely nothing about Yasuke's story, or the history of Japan at the time of the story, so I cannot speak to the historical accuracy of this novel.
This book was so well written, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The tale is told non-linearly, so you meet Yasuke while he is working for the Portuguese in Japan before learning how he came to be a part of the Portuguese forces. I was so entranced by Shreve's ability to write multiple cultures respectfully, while also making clear the horrific nature of colonialism and slavery. Shreve really goes into Yasuke's thought processes, in his experience of being the only Black man anyone in Japan had seen, and how that impacted Yasuke's experiences and emotions. The plot of this book is fairly minimal, but the emotional exploration is top notch. I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was so well written, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The tale is told non-linearly, so you meet Yasuke while he is working for the Portuguese in Japan before learning how he came to be a part of the Portuguese forces. I was so entranced by Shreve's ability to write multiple cultures respectfully, while also making clear the horrific nature of colonialism and slavery. Shreve really goes into Yasuke's thought processes, in his experience of being the only Black man anyone in Japan had seen, and how that impacted Yasuke's experiences and emotions. The plot of this book is fairly minimal, but the emotional exploration is top notch. I would recommend this to any fan of historical fiction.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 10, 2024
Az elején a tőmondatokból álló szövegszerkezet nagyon zavart. Később már kezdtek összetett mondatok is megjelenni, de a végére sem sikerült, az irodalomi szintet elérő körmondatokat összehozni.
Szóval regény, mert a szerkezete arra hasonlít. De leginkább egy történet elmesélése. Megfordult a fejemben, hogy talán az író a rabszolga szegényes szókincsével akarta átadni azt a világot, melyben főhősünknek végig kellett szenvednie az életét Japánig. De ez sem igaz, mert olyan szavakat ad a szereplő szájába, mely nem egy rabszolga, hanem egy tanult ember gondolatait fejezi ki.
Azért kap mégis ennyi csillagot, mert az egyik kedvenc történelmi korszakomban játszódik, és aránylag hitelesen adja vissza az eseményeket (annak ellenére, hogy a megidézett személyiségek azért távol állnak a valóságtól - a történelmi beszámolók alapján)
Újraolvasni nem fogom, de egy olvasmánynak kitűnő, hiszen lekötötte a figyelmemet és szórakoztatott is.
Szóval regény, mert a szerkezete arra hasonlít. De leginkább egy történet elmesélése. Megfordult a fejemben, hogy talán az író a rabszolga szegényes szókincsével akarta átadni azt a világot, melyben főhősünknek végig kellett szenvednie az életét Japánig. De ez sem igaz, mert olyan szavakat ad a szereplő szájába, mely nem egy rabszolga, hanem egy tanult ember gondolatait fejezi ki.
Azért kap mégis ennyi csillagot, mert az egyik kedvenc történelmi korszakomban játszódik, és aránylag hitelesen adja vissza az eseményeket (annak ellenére, hogy a megidézett személyiségek azért távol állnak a valóságtól - a történelmi beszámolók alapján)
Újraolvasni nem fogom, de egy olvasmánynak kitűnő, hiszen lekötötte a figyelmemet és szórakoztatott is.
April 13, 2024
This period of Japanese history gets adapted so often for good reason! This book is a fascinating imagining of that period and the life of a historical figure who I’ve only encountered as a footnote until recently. The characterizations are layered and plausible throughout and the author manages to provide an authentic depth to each one. It’s also VERY readable, I crushed this in a day and a half and stayed up all night to finish. That’s something I don’t typically encounter with historical fiction. If you’ve never heard of Yasuke before, I think this is a fantastic introduction.
March 24, 2024
A fascinating look into of one of the world's most interesting "untold" histories about an African Samurai. The book is gripping, emotional, and does not overstay its welcome or overwhelm the reader with characters or settings. Yasuke is the star and the author creates a compelling narrative, filling in the blanks of the historical record. Themes of slavery, family, duty, and identity are at the heart of the book and are masterfully explored through Yasuke's journey. Highly recommend this great work of Historical Fiction by a Canadian author.
August 10, 2025
Interesting, but ultimately missing a critical piece interpreting fact from fiction. I appreciate when the author brings in a historical note at the end or even the beginning of a novel, to inform the reader of where the story is drawn from historical sources, whose perspectives the sources were representing (African, European or Japanese in this case) and what aspects are made up in service of the flow of narrative.
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