Review of Musashi (1939) by Eiji Yoshikawa
This is one of my favorite books of all time, and one that I return to often. It is the semi-fictionalized story of the real exploits of the greatest swordsman in Japanese history, Miyamoto Musashi.
What makes this book so legendary? First, it takes place in the fascinating time period of Feudal Japan, when samurai warriors and the shoguns they serve rule the land. The duels and battle sequences are phenomenal, and made even more visceral in the manga, Vagabond (1998), inspired by Musashi.
Furthermore, you as the reader get to experience the life-changing arc of Musashi, who starts out as a ruffian whom many consider a menace to society. His quest for greatness compels him to battle every esteemed samurai in the land to become the greatest warrior of all, but he eventually realizes the wisdom in choosing one’s battles carefully and using violence only after all other options have been exhausted. In short, you see him evolve from a battle-hungry youth to a principled samurai master.
Though it’s a fairly long book at nearly 1K pages, it’s written in episodic format and so goes by quickly. I couldn’t put it down the first time I read it. Each mini story is awesome and profound in its own right, and they all work together toward the crescendo at the end.
If you are the type of person who is drawn to the samurai way of life, this is the book for you.
