Shusaku endo 19231996, was raised by his mother and an aunt in kobe where he converted to roman catholicism at the age of eleven. Trn, isbn 0811220x, isbn 97808112202, brand new, free shipping in the us offers a religious vision combining christian faith with buddhist acceptance in the story of a group of japanese tourists who converge at the ganges river. I picked up deep river on sale from audible a while ago but it did not listen to it up until beauty and silence by makoto fujimura was about to be released reading beauty and silence now. Shusaku endo is one of our recent additions to the jlit giants hall of fame, and a well deserved one. In this novel, the renowned japanese writer shusaku endo reaches his ultimate religious vision.
Thirty years separate deep river translated by van c gessel, peter shusaku endo s most probing novel since his masterpiece, silence. The novel probes their consciences, from isobe, grieving the death of the wife he ignored in life, to kugachi, haunted by wartime memories of a man who saved his life by. Right after the book, i just thought of having an edgy book. The story centers on the medical staff who offer to assist in a series of vivisections experimental operations on live u. This is the second shusaku endo novel i have read as part of a year long read of endo s works on.
The title story is set during the 18thcentury shogunate persecution of christians in japan and was the basis for endo s book silence. Each character presents a face of spirituality as a whole. He has been faithful to shusaku endo s text and to the deep questions within it. Varanasi, situated on the banks of ganges is the holy city for both hindus and budhists and is one of the most sacred pilgrimage places for hindus. Mitsuko, a cynical woman struggling with inner emptiness. Wonderful fool is a standalone title by shusaku endo. In silence, one becomes intimately, emotionally connected to the struggles of christianitys first missionaries to japan. His most famous book, silence, originally published in 1969, helps to prepare the reader for the loneliness implicit in this identity. The river is the ganges, where a group of japanese tourists converge. I opened it and could not close it until i had finished it.
The book is an indepth examination of what it means to be japanese, what it means to be christian, and how these apparently contradictory. Deep river by shusaku endo, 97808112202, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Deep river is an authentic and rewarding story that peers directly into the heart and mind of one of japans really great writers. His books reflect many of his childhood experiences, including the stigma of being an outsider, the experience of being a foreigner, the life of a hospital patient, and the struggle with tuberculosis. Once again, endo addresses the theme of religious belief.
Buy deep river book online at low prices in india deep. Buy a cheap copy of deep river by shusaku endo 0811220x 97808112202 a gently used book at a great low price. Deep river by shusaku endo author theme reads librarything. The author does an excellent job at intertwining the multiple story lines and setting the tone. When he died in 1996, only two novels were chosen to be placed inside his coffin. However, his books mainly deal with the moral fabric of life. The characters each face spiritual and moral crises in the course of the book. Read online deep river pdf by shusaku endo for free. Shusaku endos book deep river is about a journey to the river ganges with a collection of tourists immersed in their own private spiritual struggles. Deep river by shusaku endo and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Japans most famous catholic writer, he also had a difficult time in europe and also had severe medical issues which are also echoed in this book, yet clung to his christianity. While sometimes shaky, the novel deep river by shusaku endo on faith is also profound in parts. Just as tributaries of a river converge into one, so endo brings together the spiritual journeys of 4 japanese tourists as they undertake a tour of india in the last days of the reign of indira gandhi.
This short 200 page novel packs more emotional punch and character depth is a paragraph than most books do in a chapter. The sea and poison by shusaku endo is set in a japanese hospital during the last days of world war ii. The quest for freedom from grief and emptiness in deep river, a book by shusaku endo 1,117 words 4 pages mitsuko naruses pursuit of an intact self in the novel deep river by shusaku endo. A group of japanese tourists travel to india, for their own reasons and seeking their own redemptions. The political background of the time, such as the assassination of indira gandhi the prime minister and the subsequent riots in new delhi, the funeral and the immersion of her ashes in the river yamuna are clearly brought out. In india, four japanese tourists converge on the river ganges in search of absolution. Endo s controversial novel silence has also been getting more attention lately due to the martin scorsese film adaptation currently playing in theaters. Deep river shusaku endo river ganges is considered the holiest of all rivers by hindus. One of these was deep river, which he believed to be his masterpiece, but which is flawed. Its hard not to see deep river as endo s own religious summa. Endo is a master of interior dialogue and in this novel depicts modern japanese as restless people in a world headed nowhere,new york times. I thought id like to neutralize the taste and get rid of the sweetness. The characters face uncomfortable spiritual questions that arent always neatly answered. Martin scorsese is currently working on a film adaptation of silence.
Shusaku endo this study guide consists of approximately 33pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of deep river. Isobe, grieving the death of the wife he ignored in life. Deep river is a good read but lacks the philosophical weight and credibility of silence. A novel by japanese christian shusaku endo, concerning faith, xenophobia, love, kindness, sacrifice, forgiveness, greed, and a host of other topics, presented by a handful of japanese people visiting india each for their own very different reasons. Kiguchi, haunted by wartime memories of the highway of death in burma. They are all on a journey to accomplish something they. This novel by shusaku endo follows several japanese tourists from their homeland to india and the holy waters of the ganges river. Even though i read endo s more well known silence over two years ago, it is a book i still frequently think about. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Deep river fiction by shusaku endo translated by van c. Robert lauder has a deep connection to the arts including film, stage and. Deep river has 7 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Japanese author shusaku endo is considered a member of the third generation, the third major group of modern japanese authors to rise to prominence in the post world war ii era between 1953 and 1955. Shusaku endo is the winner of the akutagawa prize the japanese equivalent to the pulitzer and his books have been widely translated. In deep river, author shusaku endo follows the paths of four japanese people on a tour of india that, for each of them, is a pilgrimage.
His most famous book, silence, origi nally published in. At the river ganges, a vivid dialogue between hinduism and christianity from this towering catholic novelist. The novel is a dostoevskian study of the acceptance and forgiveness of sins, handled with a graham greene. Ive enjoyed several of his books, and ive had this novel, highly recommended, on the shelves for a long time. Kiguchi, haunted by wartime memories of the highway of death in. Shusaku endo writing styles in deep river shusaku endo this study guide consists of approximately 33 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of deep river. Thirty years separate deep river translated by van c gessel, peter owen, pounds 15. Deep river book by shusaku endo, david holt read by 7. Thirty years lie between the leading contemporary japanese writer shusaku endo s justly famed silence and his powerful new novel deep river, a book which is both a summation and a pinnacle of his work. In this richly detailed setting, endo offers a faith that, using the river as metaphor, comfortingly blends all the great religions together. Gessel the river is the ganges, where a group of japanese tourists converge. Endo has a deep knowledge of india, its people and their ways of thinking. Deep river, fukai kawa is a novel by shusaku endo published in 1993.