Musashi

A new and unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling novel about Miyamoto Musashi-the most famous swordfighter in Japanese history! Musashi: The Novel is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling novel in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity. This first book of a three-book series begins in the year 1600 at the epic Battle of Sekigahara, a scene of unimaginable carnage, where Miyamoto Musashi lies wounded on the battlefield having fought on the losing side. After being imprisoned for three years, he wanders the countryside as a vagabond. Desperate to make a name for himself as a warrior, he becomes a dueling ronin-a swordfighter without master or purpose. Musashi, accompanied by Otsu, the love of his life, faces many trials from the spear-wielding monks of Hozoin temple to the students of the Yoshioka dojo. He wins easily but his greatest challenges are yet to come. Famous for fighting 62 duels without a single defeat, Musashi is a true philosopher warrior, author of the monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings-one of the most widely read books in history. Although he was without peer, his path to glory was fraught with seemingly impossible challenges, tragic losses and emotional turmoil. And while his destiny seems clear, in order to achieve it he must open a new chapter and leave his old life behind.

A new and unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling novel about Miyamoto Musashi-the most famous swordfighter in Japanese history! Musashi: The Novel is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling novel in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity. In this second book, Miyamoto Musashi's heroic tale continues as he continues his transformation from an inexperienced soldier with no plan or direction to a Japan's greatest warrior. Even as he begins to dispatch the most skilled fighters with minimal effort, it all seems too easy. Still stung by their defeat at his hands, the Yoshioka dojo is eager for revenge as its leader, Seijuro, seeks out Musashi. Wrestling with his own demons, Musashi is torn by his love for Otsu and his ultimate goal. He also takes on a young boy as a student who shows promise as a swordsman but is Musashi losing his focus? It seems that while Musashi's destiny is at hand difficult choices will have to be made. Famous for fighting 62 duels without a single defeat, Musashi is a true philosopher warrior, author of the monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings-one of the most widely read books in history. Although he was without peer, his path to glory was fraught with seemingly impossible challenges, tragic losses and emotional turmoil. And while his destiny seems clear, in order to achieve it he must open a new chapter and leave his old life behind.

A new and unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling novel about Miyamoto Musashi-the most famous swordfighter in Japanese history! Musashi: The Novel is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling novel in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity. This is the story of a man torn between his friendships, love and devotion to the sword. Filled with episodes of exciting duels, his travels throughout Japan, and the memorable characters he meets along the way, Musashi is revealed to be a flawed hero, a genius with the sword who dispatches pretenders one after another with minimal effort yet finds little pleasure in it. Famous for fighting 62 duels without a single defeat, Musashi is a true philosopher warrior, author of the monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings-one of the most widely read books in history. Although he was without peer, his path to glory was fraught with seemingly impossible challenges, tragic losses and emotional turmoil. And while his destiny seems clear, in order to achieve it he must open a new chapter and leave his old life behind. In the last book, Musashi is left with his final obstacle, the great swordsman Sasaki Kojiro who has an untarnished reputation and is legendary for his skill in battle. As Musashi journeys the inevitable path that will lead to Kojiro, he encounters old friends and new enemies. Devoting himself to mediation and Zen teaching, he realizes that the pursuit of glory is fruitless and the only path to success can be found through self-reliance and discipline. To become truly happy, he must defeat not only his greatest rival but also his own delf-doubt, tying up loose ends in the process. He meets with Otsu as he prepares to fight Sasaki, whom he meets wielding only a wooden pole, emerging as the most formidable swordsman in the land.