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David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob...

Allday – Shareware

A Rich Tapestry of History and Humanity

David Fischer

David Mitchell's 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet' weaves an intricate narrative of love, ambition and cultural clash in 18th-century Japan, highlighting the author's masterful storytelling and poignant characters.
image/svg+xml 2025 Editor's Rating
Mitchell's rightly been hailed as a virtuoso genius for his genre-bending, fiercely intelligent novels Ghostwritten and Cloud Atlas. Now he takes something of a busman's holiday with this majestic historical romance set in turn-of-the-19th-century Japan, where young, naïve Jacob de Zoet arrives on the small manmade island of Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor as part of a contingent of Dutch East Indies officials charged with cleaning up the trading station's entrenched culture of corruption. Though engaged to be married in the Netherlands, he quickly falls in hopeless love with Orito Aibagawa, a Dutch-trained Japanese midwife and promising student of Marinus, the station's resident physician. Their courtship is strained, as foreigners are prohibited from setting foot on the Japanese mainland, and the only relationships permitted between Japanese women and foreign men on Dejima are of the paid variety. Jacob has larger trouble, though; when he refuses to sign off on a bogus shipping manifest, his stint on Dejima is extended and he's demoted, stuck in the service of a vengeful fellow clerk. Meanwhile, Orito's father dies deeply in debt, and her stepmother sells her into service at a mountaintop shrine where her midwife skills are in high demand, she soon learns, because of the extraordinarily sinister rituals going on in the secretive shrine. This is where the slow-to-start plot kicks in, and Mitchell pours on the heat with a rescue attempt by Orito's first love, Uzaemon, who happens to be Jacob's translator and confidant. Mitchell's ventriloquism is as sharp as ever; he conjures men of Eastern and Western science as convincingly as he does the unscrubbed sailor rabble. Though there are more than a few spots of embarrassingly bad writing (How scandalized Nagasaki shall be, thinks Uzaemon, if the truth is ever known), Mitchell's talent still shines through, particularly in the novel's riveting final act, a pressure-cooker of tension, character work, and gorgeous set pieces. It's certainly no Cloud Atlas, but it is a dense and satisfying historical with literary brawn and stylistic panache.

Overview

David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob... is a Shareware software in the category Home & Hobby developed by Allday.

The latest version of David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob... is currently unknown. It was initially added to our database on 01/14/2011.

David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob... runs on the following operating systems: Windows.

David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob... has not been rated by our users yet.

Pros

  • Richly woven narrative that blends historical fiction with fantasy elements
  • Strong character development and depth
  • Vivid descriptions of settings, bringing the world to life
  • Engaging plot that unfolds through multiple perspectives
  • Explores themes of culture, identity, and change in a nuanced manner

Cons

  • Pacing can be slow at times, requiring commitment from the reader
  • Some readers may find the multiple viewpoints confusing
  • Lengthy prose may deter those looking for a quicker read
  • The historical context might not resonate with all readers
  • May require background knowledge in certain cultural aspects to fully appreciate nuances

FAQ

What is the book 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet' about?

The book is a historical novel set in Japan in the late 18th century, following the story of a Dutch clerk named Jacob de Zoet.

Who is the author of 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet'?

The book is written by David Mitchell.

When was 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet' first published?

The book was first published in 2010.

Is 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet' part of a series?

No, the book is a standalone novel and not part of a series.

What genre does 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet' fall into?

The book falls into the historical fiction genre.

Where is the setting of 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet'?

The story is set in Dejima, a trading post on an artificial island in Nagasaki Harbor, Japan.

Are there any movie adaptations of 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet'?

As of now, there are no movie adaptations of the book.

What is the writing style of David Mitchell in 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet'?

David Mitchell is known for his intricate and multi-layered storytelling, which is also reflected in this book.

Are there any major awards or nominations associated with 'The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet'?

The book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2010.


David Fischer

David Fischer

I am a technology writer for UpdateStar, covering software, security, and privacy as well as research and innovation in information security. I worked as an editor for German computer magazines for more than a decade before joining the UpdateStar team. With over a decade of editorial experience in the tech industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to my current role at UpdateStar. At UpdateStar, I focus on the critical areas of software, security, and privacy, ensuring our readers stay informed about the latest developments and best practices.

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