I really liked this book. There are certainly many versions of this story, but I think this book has made a great effort to keep things simple and as accurate to the facts as can be.

Anyone interested in Japanese history, culture, or the samurai should try reading this book first. Great story, easy to read, and you can get a sense of how times past in Japan was like ( )

It took me some time to read this book – to be honest, I have finished it from the third run – I was just taken down by the first few chapters were background for the story was given. After that story becomes more interesting and reads very fast.

After their lord is tricked to use force in Shogun’s court and after he was expediently executed (as per law), lord Asano’s samurais find themselves without master and noble house to serve. In the world where there is distinct difference between nobility and commoners (especially visible during the theater performance where samurais just cant believe that common folk can comprehend their ideals) ending up as ronin (masterless samurai) is great embarrassment.

After their petitions for justice are turned down, this brave group decides to take the ultimate step – avenge their late master by taking down the man who brought him (and themselves) demise. They know that at the end they will face nothing else but death but they do not falter – they are ready to follow their ideals to the very end. They start to prepare for their revenge by weaving the masterful plan of deception in order to put their enemies at ease.

This is interesting story from time that seems to be lost now – time when ideals were worth fighting for. It provides great descriptions of human nature and relations (especially how the numbers of eager warriors dwindled by time).

Recommended. ( )

http://iamrazorwing.livejournal.com/3... ( )

A story of steadfast devotion with the ability to move a modern warriors heart. ( )

This book is a retelling of the famous incident of the Forty Seven Ronin, one of the truly epic stories from Feudal Japan. Fictionalized, the story moves along. It's almost like a novelization of a great movie, well done. Anyone who is curious about the incident, I suggest this book as an entree. ( )