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Silence

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Silence

By: Shusaku Endo
Narrated by: David Holt
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About this listen

Recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called Endo's supreme achievement" and "one of the twentieth century's finest novels".

Considered controversial ever since its first publication, it tackles the thorniest religious issues of belief and faith head on.

A novel of historical fiction, it is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion.

©1966 Shusaku Endo (P)2009 Audible Ltd Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Heartfelt Inspiring

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Critic reviews

“Brian Moore’s Black Robe, about the fate, usually violent, of 17th century Jesuit priests bent on converting the native Canadians had to be the last grisly word on the subject. Or so I thought. Then I head this … Utterly mesmerizing.” Sue Arnold, The Guardian
All stars
Most relevant
A beautiful novel depicting a Jesuit priest who questions his faith after landing in Japan during the 17th century. It is a story with many temptations and plot twists set to test the priest to his limit. All around him, Christians fall to apostasy. A simple, yet touching tale.

Silently haunting

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A story that pulls you in. I had previously read in the biography of a. Zen poet, that as
an aside, mentioned the penalties that Japanese converts to non-japanese religions suffered. Though primarily a Christian told story anyone who has a valued belief will find the harrowing story where faith is tried to its limits, utterly compelling.

A well told story that pulls you in

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loved it. very engaging. very good story, well told in a very minimalist execution. I'm looking forward to other books by the author.

excellent

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God never answers unless we suffer from a dilution of understanding the silence itself. the absence is most obvious to the unbelievers, be they atheists or of a different religion, because they have not invested a life in that one god's theology and imagery.
This is not a large book but I did struggle to finish it, the stupidity and the waste of life on the basis of spreading a religion are as sad then as they are now; martyrdom is such a misguided and dangerous idea, to blow yourself up or allow someone to drown you for not stepping on an icon is just not logical.
As an atheist, this book is just confirmation that the silence is real and implacable.

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?”
― Epicurus

The romanticising of gods silence

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Well written and narrated, I look forward to listening to others by the same author.

An excellent story

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