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  • Gai-Jin

  • The Epic Novel of the Birth of Modern Japan
  • By: James Clavell
  • Narrated by: John Lee
  • Length: 50 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (100 ratings)

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Gai-Jin

By: James Clavell
Narrated by: John Lee
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Publisher's Summary

The dynamic epic novel of political upheaval and societal change in late 1800s Japan, by the #1 New York Times bestselling author and unparalleled master of historical fiction, James Clavell

This epic novel by master writer James Clavell, loosely based on the Namamugi Incident and Anglo-Satsuma War that took place in the late 1800s, is a richly researched, panoramic view of Japan’s budding relationship with the Western powers, its sweeping societal changes, and the political upheaval that followed.

As Malcolm Struan, the son of Culum and Tess Struan, and a small band of Westerners travel down the Tōkaidō road, they are attacked by two Satsuma samurai, who mortally wound John Canterbury and seriously injure Malcolm, who then finds reprieve in the merchant village of Yokohama after a narrow escape facilitated by the unscathed Angelique.

Angelique Richaud, Malcolm’s penniless but beautiful French companion, is thrown into a world of political intrigue, fierce devotion, unstable family dynamics, blackmail, and secrets as the trading houses battle for supremacy.

With a cast of dynamic and fully recognized characters, Gai-Jin spins a tale of passionate love affairs, devastating loss, intense power struggles, and the fight to survive and thrive in a hostile new land that will leave listeners longing for another foray into Clavell’s extraordinary Asian Saga.

©2015 James Clavell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Gai-Jin

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Be prepared for Japan

Great story with the usual Clavell twists, well worth the listen. The effortlessness with which the author ties each novel together is masterful.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Stellar story and good narration

So good. If you had read the first two then it is just as good as those. You could listen out of order and itd be just as good too. I have been into fiction audiobooks before this series. onto the fourth now >:--)

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, but please learn pronunciation.

Several hundred times, i felt like throwing my iphone at the wall!
Please ask your narrators, if they are to read foreign words (in particular, Japanese) LEARN THE CORRECT PRONUNCIATION!
“Sensei” (pronounced “sen-say”) was continually pronounced as “sensai” (sen-sye) which has a completely different meaning, in Japanese! While sensei means “teacher” or “master”, sensai means “delicate” or “fine”…clearly incorrect, in the context of the story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • AM
  • 05-03-2019

Love this book.

One of my favourite books as a teenager and loved returning to it decades later.

Great yarn.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gai-Jin

James Clavell is Master writer whom never misses a best ,
Enthralling from start to finish, always leaving the reader/listener thirsting for more.
John Lee delivers faultlessly ; a phenomenally talented, seamlessly matched, team 🌟🙏🏽🌟

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great book, narrator terrible

The other James Clavell books in this series have been well narrated. This one has been butchered. The narrator shouldn't attempt accents and there is very little difference between voices for different characters, making it very difficult to follow. The lack of emotion delivered in some obviously tense parts of the story also kills the fun. Its a bummer because the novel itself is terrific

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1 person found this helpful

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