Book recommendations

[volospian]

I fancy a good book (or books) set in feudal Japan (Samurai et al).

I want something based closer to fact than fantasy (so more like "the Sunne in Splendour (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sunne_in_Splendour) than Monkey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(novel)), for example).

Either something based on historical fact (like the Sunne in Splendour) or based around largely fictional events and fictional people that are still (relatively) believable, like Ottoman (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ottoman-Alan-Savage/dp/0708843557/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1326443456&sr=1-1) or something.

Anybody got any ideas?

[semi-pro waster]

It's not feudal Japan I'm afraid but the book that game immediately to mind was Gates of Fire (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/0553812165) which is a fictionalised account of the battle of Thermopylae which was also recounted and sensationalised in the film 300. I'll try and have a think but offhand I can't think of many more in this line that I've read.

[Dymetrie]

If you've not read it, Shogun (James Clavell) is a thoroughly good read :)

[leowyatt]

I really enjoyed Shogun :)

[volospian]

It's not feudal Japan I'm afraid but the book that game immediately to mind was Gates of Fire (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gates-Fire-Novel-Battle-Thermopylae/dp/0553812165) which is a fictionalised account of the battle of Thermopylae which was also recounted and sensationalised in the film 300. I'll try and have a think but offhand I can't think of many more in this line that I've read.

Yep, read Gates of Fire already. Thought it was very good, although I didn't think much of Tides of War.

I'll have to give Shogun a go.

/EDIT I've just remembered, that's the one that was made into a tv series with Richard Chamberlain in it... I was trying to remember what it was called and I kept getting it mixed up with the Thorn Birds (which also had RC in it) and kept thinking "no, I'm sure that wasn't what it was called" :D

[Dymetrie]

Yep, read Gates of Fire already. Thought it was very good, although I didn't think much of Tides of War.

I'll have to give Shogun a go.

/EDIT I've just remembered, that's the one that was made into a tv series with Richard Chamberlain in it... I was trying to remember what it was called and I kept getting it mixed up with the Thorn Birds (which also had RC in it) and kept thinking "no, I'm sure that wasn't what it was called" :D

Yup, it was the awesome Toranaga Saga :D