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Shogun
- The Epic Novel of Japan
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 53 hrs and 34 mins
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Historical
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Publisher's Summary
A bold English adventurer; an invincible Japanese warlord; a beautiful woman torn between two ways of life, two ways of love - all brought together in an extraordinary saga of a time and a place aflame with conflict, passion, ambition, lust, and the struggle for power.
James Clavell's Shōgun is a modern classic, a masterpiece of historical fiction that will continue to endure for decades to come.
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What listeners say about Shogun
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- yantraka
- 17-12-19
Epic, indeed!
To peek into the geopolitics of an era 400 years before, into an unique culture, its ethos, its grandeur and its own internal turmoil was fascinating.
The narration is so gripping that I unconsciously started saying "Kama, Nay?" in hopeless situations!
1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 19-10-19
Outstanding Book! Outstanding Narration!
I had read the book before but the narration of Ralph Lister makes it special.
1 person found this helpful
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- Dr.ASHISH KRISHNAN
- 30-05-20
a superb novel,
Mr Ralph Lister's presentation is exceptional of a superb novel. I enjoyed each and every minute of it
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- lijo
- 22-01-20
A good read. very good novel and narration.
This book is very good. Though very long, the author has showcased the 16th century of japan. the mindset , culture, language of those people. Thanks to the narrator, i have learned a few words of japanese. At first U will think of returning the book. The words will seem to fly over your head... but fight through and everything will make sense. I lived in a world of the anjansan for 2 months... All the loose ends does get tied up though long after the incident has passed.
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- sumanth
- 26-09-19
A beautiful chess game for power
probably the longest story that kept me intrigued consistently. The mental see-saw battle for power combined with a peek into 16th century Japan was awesome!
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- Rishi Tiwari
- 27-12-17
What a Journey.
Wow! Listening to it is an experience really. I downloaded the TV series too after the book finished. What a journey especially for someone who is smitten with Japan. The books isn’t just a story but a time machine showing you the history of a time bygone. The deep insight into the minds of perhaps on of the most unique people on Earth is mesmerising.
And somebody please give Mr. Ralph Lister an Oscar, A Grammy, A Tony, a Nobel Prize or the Holy Grail itself for this stupendous performance. I stand and clap. Take a bow Ralph Sama. Unbelievable performance. The best I have possibly ever came across.
10 people found this helpful
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- Monty
- 06-08-16
Worthwhile Re-visit to an Adolescent read
A steady albeit full plot with much historical geo-political, nautical and military interest The characters are well fleshed albeit one dimensional. The strength of the novel lies in the cultural clash between Japanese and Elizabethan / European culture and the ensuing conflict both between the Euro/Japanese and Anglican/Catholic interests. Another success is the pacing of the plot and interest which made the completion of a 1000+ page novel entirely manageable.
With reference to the performance, the sound production was disappointing with frequent fading out at the completion of sentences which was a distraction which occurred too frequently to be dismissed as a quirk instead of
editing and sound mixing failure.
9 people found this helpful
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- LINZI
- 24-05-17
a masterpiece
Possibly my favorite book ever. A deep study of cultural and religious fifferences, this book is also a cracking good read. Every day I found myself on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. Every evening I found myself chewing over the deeper concepts. A great book never really leaves you. Shogun has stayed in my thoughts years after my first reading.
3 people found this helpful
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- Multis
- 02-12-19
Great book with some audio cockups
The story is great and for the most part audiobook is good. However, in some places the volume level goes so low that you can not hear the readers voice. First audiobook with that problem for me, ever.
2 people found this helpful
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- Kindle Customer
- 07-10-17
Excellent novel, outstandingly read
Epic truly is the right word to describe this journey. Most impressive is Ralph Lister’s ability to take on characters and keep consistent with their idiosyncrasies - that’s talent!
2 people found this helpful
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- Carl Angelo Cepillo
- 12-03-17
Kept me awake for several nights
I love everythin about it, the storyline, the voice actor, the author. Simply the best story I've ever read. I was just a little disappointed that it ends, i was hoping the story would follow the story of Blackthorne even after the war. Well, shikata ga nai, ne? But the rest is marvelous.
1 person found this helpful
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- Scott Hamer
- 29-01-21
Hontoni subarashi!!
I’ve lived in Japan for most of the past 10 years. Love the Anjin san. Love Toranaga. But Mariko san .... wow. This story is just the best. As epically awesome as it is epically epic. Wakarimasu ka???
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- Martin T.
- 03-08-20
Good a exiting book.
a bit long winded thought.
Ralf Lister I awesome a usually.
interested 7 Japanese culture, this I for you
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- Anonymous User
- 22-12-19
Great for a re-read!
After remembering the book as my favourite of all time, I listened to it on audible and enjoyed every minute
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- Ikram
- 26-08-19
Brilliant as ever
Read this when I was a teenager and was so moved and influenced by the story! 35 years later, the story still had a magic hold on me!
What a fascinating story! So old but still so relevant! And the preformance is flawless!
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- Mrs. S. J. Caldwell
- 17-08-16
Modern classic historic novel
I picked this novel up having spent time in Japan expecting a predictable cliched view of Japanese history and war and thought it might be a bit dated. What I found was a very well researched and clever historic novel with strong characters and enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged throughout. It skilfully intertwined the differences between East and Western cultures and religions including touching upon early trading history in a compelling story.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys historic novels or anyone with an interest in Japanese history and culture.
The narration is excellent and the book is brought to life by Ralph Lister.
20 people found this helpful
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- Turquelblue
- 09-07-16
Best historical adventure novel ever?
Any additional comments?
Take historical fact , probably little known to the reader, as the frame of a book. Cover this skeleton in interlocking elements of adventure, political intrigue, romance and tragedy whilst continuously educating the reader in Japanese culture , language and reaction to first contact with Europeans and you produce Shogun.I first read the book shortly after it was published and time has not diminished my view that it is a masterpiece of its genre. Revisiting it in audio form was a delight given the excellent performance by Ralph Lister, although I leave it to others to comment on his Japanese pronunciation.Warning: You will be addicted for 53 hours!
19 people found this helpful
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- P A Youngs
- 23-05-16
Spellbound...
An absolute must! I read the book years ago and the audio is a compliment. James Clavell is an incredible author and the narrator was excellent, with huge empathy and characters.
Totally recommend, you wouldn't be disappointed
20 people found this helpful
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- Ian Cottingham
- 22-08-16
Time machine to Old Japan
What did you like most about Shogun?
Complete immersion in the atmosphere from a very sympathetic and knowledgeable view. One of those stories that sweep you up and give you a physical experience of 'being there'.
What did you like best about this story?
History peopled with well described credible characters a la Hillary Mantel
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
All the characters come over in high resolution...and the love affair between the lead characters is beautiful and heart-rending
Any additional comments?
Narrator needs to warm to the role....took a few hours before he got into the characters so don't be discouraged by the first few hours...hang in there for an emotional roller-coaster
12 people found this helpful
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- B. Miller
- 27-05-19
awful narration
don't waste your time - the reading of this book by Ralph Lister is almost unlistenable and I gave up after an hour so.
5 people found this helpful
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- Jayceeme
- 16-03-19
Narration really grates
I read and thoroughly enjoyed this saga, many more years ago than I care to admit. So, when this came up in a "twofor deal" I snapped it up looking forward to a pleasant few hours of escapism. Sadly the narration of Blackthorne, the central character, about whom the whole book revolves, and, as such would be leading the whole book. Grated on my nerves and ears, becoming unbearable before the end of chapter two.
To have him sound "annoyed, angry, unreasonably gruff, growling, and shouty", as if on the verge of killing someone?" annoyed.
Growling through every sentence, whilst other characters "spoke" normal conversational tones, was off-putting to say the least.
Ultimately leading me to disconnect both from the book and my earphones! Others may not notice, the book is engrossing, but when all one can hear is an unreal interpretation of the "hero". Sorry but I gave up.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mr
- 14-09-18
Don’t waste your time
After reading the book an audio book seemed a great idea..... until I got this one.
The editing is rubbish, the narrative gets cut off at the end of sentences as if the editor was trying to save time.
So you lose a word or part of a word.
And this narrator seems to have everybody in a bad mood shouting at each other rather than conversing- as in the book , but who knows? Maybe in medieval Japan they were all hard of hearing!
I’ve looked for the book with a different narrator but there isn’t one on Audible.
So this one gets returned and I’ll spend my credit elsewhere.
17 people found this helpful
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- average joe
- 05-10-16
Great story; poor audio
How could the performance have been better?
The volume randomly dips towards the end of sentences, rudely interrupting what is an amazing story.
26 people found this helpful
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- dzadams
- 03-02-16
Brilliant
This is the fourth time I have read, watched and listened to this fascinating book. I was very surprised how the audio book was just as good as reading it.
15 people found this helpful
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- Janine
- 20-07-16
Breathtaking!
This book is rightfully considered a classic, the depth and scope of of it breathtaking.
Brief synopsis: Set in the late 1500's during Queen Elizabeth I 's reign, a ship makes it to Japan, the first Protestants to do so. The English know about Japan, but it is a closely guarded secret of Catholic Spanish and Portuguese trade.
The pilot of the ship, John Blackthorne, is a rarity in that he is well educated and articulate and manages to adapt to the Japanese rigid caste structure and culture. He survives and thrives where the majority of Europeans are unable to. He becomes a pawn in the deep plans of a Lord Toranaga while planning to take the Religious wars of Europe to the Jesuit silk trade monopoly.
Japanese society is described in loving detail, bringing it to life in a way that Europeans can access. It is an alien society to the West.
The narration is great, the story superb. IMO, the best of the Asian Saga.
19 people found this helpful
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- Adrienne Curry
- 03-04-18
Brilliant story! Brilliantly read!
WoW! What a ride! Shōgun has sat in my bookcase for a few decades waiting for me but it is the original book. Small and ( let's face it) the size of a brick. My eyes could not read it with ease. If it was printed in the size we have become accustom to now or an e-book then no worries. However, to my great delight I happened upon Ralph Lister's fabulous narration of Shōgun by James Clavell. I was fully swept away to 15th Century Japan.
Goodness, talk about Yin and Yang. They, the Japanese ( and the world. It was the time of the Spanish inquisition ) were so bloody brutal yet beloved of the arts, the seasons..... the weather. James Clavell cleverly creates a nexus between you and his protagonist Blackthorn. As Blackthorn is taught how to speak Japanese you also learn. Terrifyingly, I have a very good grasp of manners and politeness if ever I was thrust into that time period 😓
Clavell tells his story with a vibrant delineation at a knife edged pace. You feel you are listening to a true story. The intricacies of each relationship Blackthorn has, be it Samurai, ship mate, lover, his cook are so perfectly portrayed. James Clavell's book truly is a modern day classic. I loved every bit ( although the first chapters were so spine chilling that I 'did' wonder whether I could go on ) and am looking forward to listening to the 2nd book in his Asian Saga series, Tai-Pan.
9 people found this helpful
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- Attila
- 11-06-16
An absolute epic.
Always wanted to get through this work ever since I was a boy. Not disappointed I made the effort and took the plunge.
It was tiring at the start but by the end I felt like the author had transported me back to feudal Japan and I did not want to leave.
Will continue now with Taipan. I am hook on the Asian Saga.
3 people found this helpful
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- Richard
- 19-08-18
Absolutely magnificent!
I read the book just after it was published in 1975. I enjoyed it immensely. Now in 2018 I came across the Audible version narrated superbly by Ralph Lister. Amongst the cruelty, ceremony and cultural norms of of Japanese life one can understand a bit more about why Japanese culture remains a bastion of defiance against the rising storms of contemporary China. There are advantages in being an Island Nation. I look forward to listening to further audio versions of James Clavell's historical novel, which are not far from history
1 person found this helpful
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- Christopher
- 29-01-21
Phenomenal
one of the best stories written. some people will complain about the lack of action, those people as missing the point of the book.
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- Aleksandar
- 15-12-20
Wow. Just wow
This was an incredible epic. An incredible performance by the narrator and one of the best things I’ve listened to in my life.
What a story. What a journey. And what a contrast to the pathetic version of humanity we’re surrounded by in 2020.
Makes me long for the days of honour. The Japanese were incredible
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- emeraldeye
- 27-11-20
loved it
an abrupt ending but thoroughly enjoyable journey. the narrator does a good job with the Japanese words
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- Amazon Customer
- 27-10-20
Great Story
I read this book over 30 years ago, loved it then and loved it even more now.
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- Anonymous User
- 13-10-20
. Loved how you could dive into another culture
Loved it, but was a little surprised about the abrupt ending.
Japanese traditions are interesting
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- Anonymous User
- 07-09-20
Well detailed story
The story was long but worth it :) Narrator was good but most of the time I don't understand what he is saying when he's speaking Japanese (I'm Japanese). Maybe narrator should've spoken more slowly when he was speaking Japanese, was a little too fast for my liking. But overally story wise, it was very good :)
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- Anonymous User
- 21-08-20
A triumph
Second read, first listen, absolutely brilliant! Made even better with the fantastic narration of Ralph Lister