In 1799, the artificial island of Dejima lies in Nagasaki Harbor as the Empire of Japan's de facto gate blocking Western influence. Here, at the farthest outpost of the Dutch East Indies Company, Jacob de Zoet comes to make his fortune before reuniting with his fiancee in Holland. But fate takes a dangerous turn when Jacob-who, like all outsiders, is not allowed to set foot on the mainland-falls hopelessly in love with a young Japanese woman. Filled with lush imagery and populated by authentic characters, this epic novel is beautifully complemented by the dual performance of narrators Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox.
