Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • The Samurai

  • By: Shusaku Endo
  • Narrated by: David Holt
  • Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (47 ratings)
Get this deal Try for £0.00
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
The Samurai cover art

The Samurai

By: Shusaku Endo
Narrated by: David Holt
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.00

Buy Now for £16.00

Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Deep River cover art
The Setting Sun cover art
Under Western Eyes cover art
Rubicon cover art
The Magic Mountain cover art
The Crazy Kill cover art
The Magus cover art
Les Misérables cover art
The Secret Agent cover art
The Honjin Murders cover art
Musashi cover art
The Mahabharata cover art

Summary

In the 17th century, the first Japanese ever to set foot in Europe travel to Rome on a diplomatic mission. All are baptised, but upon returning to Japan they discover that the Shoguns no longer wish to forge links with the West, nor will they tolerate the Christian religion. The Samurai who have until now reviled their adoptive religion, begin to find it may be all that is left for them. The events in this story actually took place.
©1980 Shusaku Endo (P)2009 Audible Ltd
Literary Fiction Historical Fiction
Show More Show Less

More from the same

Author

Narrator

What listeners say about The Samurai

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    13
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13
  • 4 Stars
    9
  • 3 Stars
    4
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.co.uk reviews

Amazon reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jem

Front page should be Jesus on the cross

What did you like most about The Samurai?
The sample

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)
Emptiness

Which scene did you most enjoy?
The sample

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I really felt the mood of the characters as they went through mental anguish, pain and suffering from which there was no relief.

There were also quiet shows of compassion and comradeship.

Any additional comments?
If you are drawn by the title and cover picture this book is probably not for you; it is steeped in religious fervour and is about a zealous Catholic missionary and four peasant Samurai who reluctantly go on an epic voyage to Europe as envoys for Japan.

I found the sample of this book the best and happiest part of the story. It is set mostly outside of Japan and based on true events, probably why I found it so gloomy. All five face hardship and disappointment with fortitude, the missionary via his religion and the Samurai through their culture.

I found it very depressing and kept expecting something good to occur, even something small but for me it didn't, perhaps for a religious person (Catholic Christian) it would.

It is a deep book that has left a deep mark on me but if you want to learn about Japan, it's culture and the Samurai, try another book like "Musashi" by Eiji Yoshikawa or even “Shogun” by James Clavell”.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for rascallybear

beautifully crafted

A beautifully crafted book and audio novel. Expertly read by David Holt. Also of merit are the Preface and Epilogue, which explain the translation and context, as well as the underlying historical facts which (in part) inspired the story.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful