Blossoms and Shadows

This is the story of the birth of modern Japan, told by Tsuru, a young woman who breaks every stereotype of the Japanese lady. We meet her on the day of her sister s wedding, and soon realise that she will not accept the same domestic role that her sister is about to take on. Instead, Tsuru is ready to embrace the new world, defend her beliefs, look for love, and follow her career as a doctor working alongside her husband on the battlefields.

In the mid 1860s Japan was in the grip of a revolution almost as tumultuous as the French Revolution 100 years earlier, yet we in the West know very little about it. This book lets readers feel they are there among the revolutionaries, guided by the engaging character of Tsuru. By the end of the first chapter readers will feel they know her, and want to fight with her as she battles against the conventions of the day and falls into a forbidden love.

“'The strength of Hearn's passion for all facets of the Land of the Rising Sun shines through in her descriptions of the social customs and her honourable warrior characters.' - The Sunday Telegraph'All the tension and emotion of the birth of modern Japan make this a total immersion indulgence.' - 'Best Reads Under the Sun', Mindfood'One of the story's greatest strengths lies in its imagery and attention to detail. Lian Hearn manages to capture this small piece of post-feudal Japan perfectly.' - Australian Bookseller & Publisher Magazine”

'The strength of Hearn's passion for all facets of the Land of the Rising Sun shines through in her descriptions of the social customs and her honourable warrior characters.' - The Sunday Telegraph

'All the tension and emotion of the birth of modern Japan make this a total immersion indulgence.' - 'Best Reads Under the Sun', Mindfood

'One of the story's greatest strengths lies in its imagery and attention to detail. Lian Hearn manages to capture this small piece of post-feudal Japan perfectly.' - Australian Bookseller & Publisher Magazine

One of Australia's most internationally successful writers, Lian Hearn's books have been translated into 42 languages and have sold millions of copies. Nine of her books are set in a mythical country based on medieval Japan: these are the five Tales of the Otori books, starting with Across the Nightingale Floor; The Tale of Shikanoko: Emperor of the Eight Islands and Lord of the Darkwood; and Children of the Otori: Orphan Warriors and Sibling Assassins. She has also written two historical novels set in nineteenth-century Japan, Blossoms and Shadows and The Storyteller and His Three Daughters.

Lian's passionate interest in Japan began when she was a teenager. She received an AsiaLink arts fellowship for travel and research in 1999. She travels frequently to Japan and has studied Japanese for many years. She has always been deeply interested in languages and has a BA and MA in French and Spanish from Oxford University. She worked as an editor and film critic in England and Australia before beginning her career as a novelist in 1986, under the name of Gillian Rubinstein, with the bestselling and award-winning children's novel Space Demons.

You can follow Lian on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This is the story of the birth of modern Japan, told by Tsuru, a young woman who breaks every stereotype of the Japanese lady. We meet her on the day of her sister s wedding, and soon realise that she will not accept the same domestic role that her sister is about to take on. Instead, Tsuru is ready to embrace the new world, defend her beliefs, look for love, and follow her career as a doctor working alongside her husband on the battlefields.In the mid 1860s Japan was in the grip of a revolution almost as tumultuous as the French Revolution 100 years earlier, yet we in the West know very little about it. This book lets readers feel they are there among the revolutionaries, guided by the engaging character of Tsuru. By the end of the first chapter readers will feel they know her, and want to fight with her as she battles against the conventions of the day and falls into a forbidden love.

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