Cloud of Sparrows: A Novel“Exotic, entertaining . . . [an] exceptional first novel.”—San Francisco Chronicle The year is 1861. After two centuries of isolation, Japan has opened its doors to the West. And as foreign ships threaten to rain destruction on the Shogun’s castle in Edo, a small group of American missionaries has arrived to spread the word of their God. They have yet to realize that their future in Japan has already been foreseen. For a young nobleman has dreamt that his life will be saved by an outsider in the New Year. . . and it is said that Lord Genji has the gift of prophecy. What happens next—when the handsome lord meets an appa rently reformed gunslinger and a woman in flight from her own destructive beauty—sets the stage for a remarkable adventure. For as this unlikely band embarks on a journey through a landscape bristling with danger, East and West, flesh and spirit, past and future, collide in ways no one—least of all Genji—could have imagined. Praise for Cloud of Sparrows “The book seizes you from start to finish.”—The Washington Post “Adventure-filled.”—Entertainment Weekly “Rich . . . with an ambitious, unexpected ending that cuts deeper than a samurai sword.”—San Francisco Chronicle |
Contents
| 3 | |
| 23 | |
Quiet Crane | 44 |
Ten Dead Men | 65 |
Lord Genjis Death | 120 |
Satori | 139 |
Makkyo | 161 |
Bitoku | 198 |
IV | 275 |
V | 375 |
VI | 401 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
arms asked attack beauty blade blood body bodyguard bowed bullet castle Cloud of Sparrows Cromwell Cruz dead death domain Edo Castle Emily Emily's Ethan eyes face father felt fire geisha Genji smiled girls Gojiro gone Grandfather Hanako hand head heard Hidé Hidé's Hiromitsu horse iaido Japan Japanese Jimbo katana kill kimono knees knew Kudo Kudo's Kuma Lady Heiko Lady Shizuka looked Lord Genji Lord Kawakami Lord Kiyori Lord of Akaoka Lord Shigeru Mary Anne missionaries moved Mukai Mushindo Monastery musket never ninja Okumichi clan outsider Ozawa palace palanquin Perhaps prophecy Reverend Abbot Saiki samurai Sekigahara Shimoda shinai Shogun snow Sohaku someone speak Star of Bethlehem Stark stood stopped sure SUZUME-NO-KUMO sword Taro tears Thank thought Tokugawa told took True Word turned uncle vision voice wait wakizashi walked watch woman Yoshi Zephaniah