The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

Written by David Mitchell

Narrated by Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox

By the New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Clocks and Cloud AtlasLonglisted for the Man Booker Prize

In 2007, Time magazine named him one of the most influential novelists in the world. He has twice been short-listed for the Man Booker Prize. The New York Times Book Review called him simply “a genius.” Now David Mitchell lends fresh credence to The Guardian’s claim that “each of his books seems entirely different from that which preceded it.” The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoetis a stunning departure for this brilliant, restless, and wildly ambitious author, a giant leap forward by even his own high standards. A bold and epic novel of a rarely visited point in history, it is a work as exquisitely rendered as it is irresistibly readable.

The year is 1799, the place Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor, the “high-walled, fanshaped artificial island” that is the Japanese Empire’s single port and sole window onto the world, designed to keep the West at bay; the farthest outpost of the war-ravaged Dutch East Indies Company; and a de facto prison for the dozen foreigners permitted to live and work there. To this place of devious merchants, deceitful interpreters, costly courtesans, earthquakes, and typhoons comes Jacob de Zoet, a devout and resourceful young clerk who has five years in the East to earn a fortune of sufficient size to win the hand of his wealthy fiancée back in Holland.

But Jacob’s original intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with Orito Aibagawa, the disfigured daughter of a samurai doctor and midwife to the city’s powerful magistrate. The borders between propriety, profit, and pleasure blur until Jacob finds his vision clouded, one rash promise made and then fatefully broken. The consequences will extend beyond Jacob’s worst imaginings. As one cynical colleague asks, “Who ain’t a gambler in the glorious Orient, with his very life?”

A magnificent mix of luminous writing, prodigious research, and heedless imagination, The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is the most impressive achievement of its eminent author.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 29, 2010
• ISBN: 9781449828318

Reviews for The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

[mouldywarp_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely enchanting. It kept me reading into the small hours of the morning as I couldn't put it down.

[daviddonnelly · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic, really enjoyable from the start to the last word. Brings the Japanese culture and history brilliantly to life.

[simonea_533972 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First of all: David Mitchell is an author who is very good with words. In this book,as well as in Black Swan Green, I was at times amazed at the writing. However, the story about Jacob de Zoet in Japan did not really work for me. There were good parts, but there were also a lot of parts that dragged on, or that didn't really add to the story. If you like Mitchell's work and historical fiction, read this book. If you don't, you might want to skip this one.

[zeepaardje · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow!!!!! Mitchell keeps renewing himself in every book, he is definitely my favorite author.

[mynovelthoughts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really wanted to love this novel. I have heard so many great things about David Mitchell, specifically about his masterpiece Cloud Atlas, that I had high expectations for this novel. Besides, I'd heard that The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet is a favourite for the Man Booker Prize. Unfortunately, my reading experience of this novel fluctuated between extremely interested and bored.The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet begins in 1799 on the man-made island of Dejima, a trading post off the coast of Japan held by the Dutch East Indies Company. The protagonist, Jacob De Zoet, is a young man of strong morals who is aiming to earn a suitable amount of money to wed his sweetheart from home. When he meets a midwife and doctor's pupil, Orito, Jacob De Zoet becomes infatuated with her. Suddenly, she disappears, and a corrupt "cult" is exposed.Mitchell is a masterful writer; his prose is wonderful. However, I feel that this novel fell short. I had little empathy for the characters and therefore was not particularly invested in them. I could not understand Jacob's fascination with Orito and consequently didn't care too much about Jacob's feelings toward her. I found the novel quite difficult to get into, and if it wasn't for the fact that I want to read The Booker longlist I'm not sure I would have persevered.It is too early for me to decide whether or not I think that The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet will win the Booker - I think Mitchell has a great command over the English language, but this story was not an excellent one.

[marient_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A complicated read but worth the try. The year is 1799, the place Dejma in Nagasaki Harbor, the "high-walled, fan shaped artificial island" the is the Japanese Empire's single port and sole window onto the world, designed to keep the West at bay: the farthest outpost of the war-ravaged Dutch Eat Indies Company. It is a de facto prison for the dozen foreigners permitted to work there. To this place of devious merchants, deceitful interpreters, costly courtesans, earthquakes, and typhoons come Jacob de Zoet, a devout and resourceful young clerk who has five years in the East to earn a fortune of suficient size to win the hand of his wealthy financee back in Holland. But Jacob's original intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with Orito Aibagawa, the disfigured daughter of a samurai doctor and midwife to the city's powerful magistrate.

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I liked it because it is different than most of what I read, it did not follow an expected trajectory (every time I thought I'd figured it out it took a different turn), there were many good descriptions, and there's a scene near the end that's described in rhyme (though no clear rhythm to said section). It's history I was totally ignorant of, but connects well enough to other books I've read that allowed me to see familiarity. Oh, and many of the characters are Dutch. Not a love story, mystery, or historical retelling, but had a bit of all of the above.

[labfs39 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

David Mitchell is a versatile writer willing to take chances on different literary devices and genres. In The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, Mitchell tries his hand at an historical novel. Having spent eight years in Japan as an English teacher, he is familiar with the landscape and culture and presumably the language. Certainly, Mitchell is able to play his usual linguistic tricks, despite representing both Dutch and Japanese in English. His ability to catch one’s ear with an unusual phrase is a trademark of his writing, but in this novel, he also explores the difficulties and misunderstandings that occur when two cultures and languages collide.In 1799 Jacob de Zoet arrives on Dejima, an island connected to the mainland by a foot bridge and the only port foreigners, by treaty the Dutch, are allowed in the Japanese Empire. Jacob is the clerk assisting in the investigation into alleged mismanagement of funds, an uncomfortable position to hold when everyone on the island is involved in profiteering to some extent. Jacob too is hoping to make his fortune while on his five year contract, so that he can marry the woman he loves back home. Fate intervenes when he meets and is intrigued by a young Japanese midwife who is in the unique situation of being allowed to study with Dr. Marinus on Dejima. The results of this meeting have drastic and long-lasting effects for many on both sides of the bridge.Mitchell divides his book into three parts: the first and last are told primarily from the point of view of Jacob. The middle section switches point of view to that of the midwife, Orito, and a Japanese translator named Ogawa. The middle section also switches writing style, becoming much more plot driven, whereas the Jacob sections are more about dialogue and verbal intrigue. Personally I preferred the Jacob sections, where I think Mitchell’s strengths as an author are played out: clever language and the exploration of language, in this case as the vehicle for cultural exchange. The result is a solid historical novel that brings to light the moment in time when the Dutch Empire’s influence in Asia is waning, the British Empire’s is rising, and the Japanese are poised to make a fateful decision about engagement with foreign cultures. Mitchell’s writing is always fun to read because of its one-line zingers and language play. My one complaint is that his plot needed work. The middle section seemed out of place with its plot overtones of The Handmaid’s Tale crossed with Ronin. It felt disjointed from the rest of the book, almost as though he were inserting a myth into the middle of the story. It didn’t work for me. Overall, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this book unless you are particularly interested in Mitchell’s writing.

[cornerhouse_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is, without doubt, the finest novel that I've read in some time. Mitchell once again gives us the all-too-rare combination of a fascinating and immediately engaging story and wonderful characters that bubble up from his scintillating prose. I read it in two days and like Cloud Atlas, I felt that could easily just return to the beginning and start reading it all over again.

[martitia_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jacob De Zoet travels to the Dejima trading post in Nagasaki harbor to work as a clerk in 1799. He is embroiled in the corruption of the trading post and falls in love with a Japanese woman. I liked the characters and the story, but the author excels at using language to paint scenes. This is not a short book, so you need time to savor it.

[xmaystarx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The meandering story line of Jacob DeZoet was captivating. Mitchells writing is unlike most other contemporary writers, beautifully done. There are so many threads, like mitchells other works. I was shocked by some, moved by others. One tip, don't worry about trying to keep all of the characters straight, just go with the flow and those that are important will distinguish themselves.

[mooose_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Empire building, it wasn't all done by the Brits. Access to the east was tightly held and protected by any country with inroads there as they knew how widespread the need was for Asian products.Young clerk Jacob de Zoet is sent to work for his Dutch company in Japan intending to earn his fortune and return a rich man. Unlike some of his co-workers he wants to understand the culture and language, although there are strong laws against interaction with the locals. He is immediately attacted to a young woman and eventually the story changes from him to her. It doesn't linger long though and jumps forward in years towards the end. Because the story takes a somewhat gruesome turn it makes me less likely to recommend the novel to just anyone. However, it was a fascinating look into the history of colonialism and Dutch history, politics, greed, and love.

[porch_reader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel provides an interesting look at the operations of the Dutch East Indies Company in Japan at the turn of the 19th century. Jacob De Zoet is a clerk who is sent to Japan to investigate the corruption rampant in the Dutch East Indies Company. While De Zoet provides a focal point for the story, Mitchell introduces us to a full contingent of characters, including other Dutch officials, the resident physician, a Japanese midwife, interpreters, and members of the Japanese ruling class. Multiple storylines help move the book forward while providing us with a multi-layered understanding of this historical time period. In many ways, this is historical fiction at its best. Mitchell tells a story that is richly textured with details of the period, but these details are always provided in service of moving the story forward. I never felt as though Mitchell was including a detail simply because he had discovered it as part of his research on the time period. In fact, Mitchell drops us into the context with very little hand holding. At times, this made it a little difficult to piece together the story. My knowledge of early 19th century Japan was not terribly well developed prior to reading this book. But once I got into the rhythm of the story, I enjoyed the book a great deal.

[teunduynstee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book. The overall plot is quite complex, never predictable and still exciting and thrilling. The main minor point would be the work that is expected from the reader: so many characters with names in foreign languages (I'm lucky to be Dutch, I guess), several character have more that one name.All in all: as an historical novel, it is very convincing and offers a lot of interesting fact of life in Asia in the 17th century. As a novel of love, intrigue, friendship and crime, it is amazing.

[kidzdoc_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The setting for this superb historical novel is Nagasaki, Japan at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, and the story is centered about a forbidden love between Jacob de Zoet, a Dutch clerk who works for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), and Orito Aibagawa, a young and talented Japanese midwife. The company is engaged in limited trade with Japan, which at the time was a closed society where Westerners were not permitted to tread on Japanese soil or practice Christianity openly. The Europeans were permitted to reside on Dejima, an artificial island connected to the port city of Nagasaki, where their activities were closely monitored by Japanese inspectors and interpreters who served as spies for the local Magistrate.de Zoet, the moral and introspective son of a minister from Domburg, initially encounters Orito on Dejima, as the Magistrate allows her to study under the island's physician. Although his heart belongs to a woman back in Zeeland, de Zoet falls in love with Orito, although his interactions with her are severely limited by custom, language, and the ever watchful eyes of the Japanese representatives. He openly expresses his affection for her, and sends her several gifts, with the help of Ogawa Uzaemon, an interpreter that he has befriended. Unfortunately, before any sort of relationship can develop, Orito is abducted and imprisoned in a shrine on a mountain overlooking Nagasaki run by the Lord Abbot, a powerful and sinister character. Both men attempt to gain her freedom, after they receive information that Orito and other sisters in the convent are in extreme danger.Mitchell deftly weaves several stories and themes throughout the novel, including a historical skirmish between the VOC and an English frigate, the unscrupulous actions of VOC officials and laborers and the Japanese officials of Nagasaki, differences between European and Japanese culture and morality, and the changing practice of Western medicine due to advances in scientific knowledge.This was a compelling and richly rewarding read, and it should be a strong contender for this year's Booker Prize.

[kathythelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another great read from David Mitchell. Very different from his other works. Nice linear tale with intertwining plot lines spiced with magic, adventure, and fabulous detail about life in 18th century Japan and the Dutch trading post on Dejima Island in Nagasaki.

[thelostentwife · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS OF JACOB DE ZOET was, I think, the most difficult book I've read this year. Another reviewer mentioned that if you were tired of the summer reads and ready to pick up something worth reading, then this is the book to do it with and I completely agree. The story here is so gritty and so real that, at times, I wasn't sure whether my horror or fascination would win over. There were several times that I had to put the book down and just chew on what I was reading. David Mitchell brought these characters to life. The story begins in the year 1699 in a little Dutch port in Japan. (Dutch as in, the Dutch lease it from Japan). There is a gruesome child birth, detailed and even a picture provided to give you the full on picture of what is happening. Then the story meanders away from that fateful birth and moves on to Jacob de Zoet, a Dutch clerk. This character is so magnificent. Jacob is so honest that, when certain situations were put before him, I knew without a shadow of a doubt what his answer would be. And when he meets the burned Japanese woman apprenticed to Dr. Marinus, I knew what his intentions were toward her. This is not a romance story in the typical sense. This is a story of heartbreak, love, fear, death, betrayal and life. It's beautifully written and detailed to the finest point. So I'd like to repeat what that reviewer said and encourage you, if you are tired of little bits of fluff, to pick up this book and chew on it.

[dettingmeijer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the best book I read in years. The setting is Decima. An isolation policy was adopted in feudal Japan from 1639 to 1853 owing to the fear of foreign influence. During those 200 years of isolation, all foreigners were withheld from the country with the exception of the Dutch, who were permitted to establish a trading post on this small artificial island in the Bay of Nagasaki, Western culture and science reached the Japanese exclusively through the Dutch Health care on Decima was provided by Dutch barber-surgeons, who introduced Western surgical practice in Japan. Official interpreters were the only Japanese allowed on Decima. It was from among these interpreters that the first Japanese surgeons arose who, having mastered the Dutch language, translated several Dutch anatomic and surgical texts. Dutch surgery, known in Japan as "surgery of the red-haired" was propagated. According to the custom of the surgical guilds in Holland, certificates were granted to Japanese apprentices who had completed their training in Dutch surgery. About 60 Dutch surgeons had served on Decima up to 1850, providing the basis for surgery to develop in Japan. Among them, Philipp Franz von Siebold was an exceptional scholar who also had a great impact in making Japanese culture known to the Western world.Also slightly later the character of dr. Marinus seems to be based VonSiebold. The main character is the clerk Jacob de Zoet who has real red hair. He falls in love with Orito a Japanese midwife, who is in love with Jacobs friend and interpreter, who is already married. So the plot seems simple but the way David tells the story is an amazing play with preconceptions an misconceptions of the Dutch, the English, the Japnese and especially the reader.

[alaskabookworm · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell tells an unusual tale of a forgotten sliver of history, peopled by characters colorful, complex, and memorable. Told from alternating perspectives, the book is set in Nagasaki Harbor, Japan at the turn of the 18th Century. Japan is a country closed to outsiders, and one which refuses to let its people venture beyond Japan’s borders. The only window to the outside Western world is a tiny man-made island, Dejima, sparsely occupied by employees of the Dutch East Indies Company. The book’s namesake, Jacob de Zoet, is a young Dutch clerk hoping to make his way in the world of international commerce that within a few years might earn enough to win the hand of a woman he left behind. But in this far away, foreign land that operates by its own set of rules, de Zoet is abandoned to an uncertain future. He must adapt to survive, and try to reconcile an infatuation with the young Japanese midwife, Orito.Mitchell is one of the most amazing storytellers I’ve ever encountered. His ability to convey both complexity and sympathy in his characters, the unfolding of his tale, and is utterly comprehensible and absorbing. It is a story of being abandoned to a hopeless fate, and with modesty, courage, and strength rising to stand tall and find one’s place and personal peace. It is a story about proud people in a world whose axes of power are shifting. Mitchell’s masterful storytelling drew me right in. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the rest of his oeuvre.

[abertain · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

David Mitchell is well known for his mind bending piece of fiction, Cloud Atlas, a book in which Mitchell proves that he is both a great story teller and craftsman. In his new novel, Mitchell, who is on record as saying that he wants to continually evolve as a writer, reinvents himself as a historical novelist, setting tale in Japan during the turn of the 19th century. In James Woods' review of Mitchell's new novel, featured in the New Yorker, he asks why a writer of Mitchell's considerable talents is spending time writing a good historical novel. While I think Woods entirely misses the boat on Cloud Atlas in his review, his point actually seems well taken when it comes to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet. The book gets off to a bit of a clunky start as the reader is introduced to a virtual monkey bin of characters both Dutch and Japanese without enough time spent on their development as characters for the reader to get a firm foothold. In fact, the first portion of the book labors in much the same way as Cloud Atlas' opening section does but without the payoff at the end. Once Mitchell settles in to the story, Jacob De Zoet becomes an interesting character, and his sudden infatuation with a Japanese woman, and encounters with the rough Dr. Marinus are the stuff of fine writing. However, I think it's fair to say that Mitchell could have cut a good portion of this sprawling 479 paged book without losing any of the important threads. Unlike many historical novels, which seem bogged down in research, Mitchell's story gets bogged down by a whirlwind of double dealings that leave the reader feeling unmoored. By the conclusion of the first section the plot elements are fully in play and the book begins to take off. However, the second section, which includes the story of Japanese interpreter, is occasionally held back by lackluster writing. Certainly Mitchell is a brilliant word smith, but at times, (and here I think Mitchell struggles a bit operating in the third person for the first time in his fifth novel) the feelings implied by the characters seem artificial. It is in the third section that Mitchell's narrative gifts start to pay off, and the reader is swept up in the story coming together in a way not quite reminiscent of Dumas, but it certainly shares elements with the epics of the past. Tolstoy or Dostoevsky would be offering too much credit. Would that Mitchell could have gotten to this character building action a hundred pages sooner. The fourth and fifth sections take place twelve and eighteen years after the main action. And it is in these two extraordinarily short sections, under ten pages total, the reader gets a glimpse at the sort of magic that Mitchell dispenses freely in the latter half of Cloud Atlas as Jacob De Zoet reflects on an old friend dying, and a lost love returned briefly. It is in these more human moments that Mitchell really makes his mark as a writer. For all the evident pyrotechnics of his story-telling method, he is, at heart, a very good recorder of human nature. If The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet falls short it is only in forgetting the memorable characters that he crafts so well for the machinations of plot and revealing parts of the ancient Japanese culture. I have no doubt that Mr. Mitchell will continue writing wonderful books for years to come, and though I cannot highly recommend this book, I would recommend it to readers, though I rate it his fourth best behind Cloud Atlas, Black Swan Green and Ghostwritten. All in all, I can think of worse ways that one might spend an afternoon than wrapped up in a world of love, loss, intrigue and regret, with David Mitchell captaining the ship.

[cariola_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you've been tempted by this book, my best advice is: Jump in and go for the ride. Don't read the reviews in advance; they tend to give too much away and spoil the excitement and surprises that await you.That said, what can I say that will intrigue you without violating my own warning. Maybe just the briefest sketch of a few characters and events.Setting: the early 19th century, on the island of Dejima off the coast of Japan, which is rich with copper coveted by the Dutch traders.Jacob de Zoet: young red-haired second officer, known for his honesty (which is at times an advantage, at other times, not so much). If he makes sufficient money in five years, he hopes to return to Domberger and marry his beloved Anna.Orito Aibagawa: the brilliant, beautiful, but scarred daughter of a respected samurai doctor. Her indulgent father has allowed Orita to pursue the occupation of midwife and to train alongside the students of the local Dutch physician, the cynical Dr. Marinus.Uzaemon Ogawa: friendly but humble interpreter. He keeps a lot to himself, and his gradual revelations will evoke your admiration.Enomoto: sinister and powerful abott in charge of a secretive order of monks and nuns Well, the novel really has a huge cast of characters, too many to detail here, but each of them unique and believable. Suffice it to say that Mitchell provides everything you'd want in a sweeping historical novel: adventure, intrigue, a colorful setting and exotic culture, romance, betrayal, sacrifice, surprise, a monkey named William Pitt, and more. (In my opinion, the Booker Prize judges made a huge mistake in not moving The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet on to its long list; it did make the short list.)Go ahead, take a chance! You won't regret the time you spend on this one.

[dmsteyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has been over-reviewed, so I will not rehash the story. Rather, I will give my overall impressions. The story is very good and entertaining - perhaps too entertaining for my tastes, especially the second of the three parts, which reads like a thriller. It seemed a bit improbable to me, unlike the rest of the book, which is full of historical verisimilitude. I liked the complex characterisation of most of the characters, although I was not always convinced by the Fu Manchu-like Enomoto and his 'magical' powers. As with some of the other Japanese characters, he seemed a bit inhuman / artificial at times. (This problem with the Japanese characters may be only my reading, as 18th century Japan may very well have been as hierarchical and artificial as Mitchell depicts it).I also disliked some of Mitchell's English transliteration of the Dutch speakers. Although he tries hard to reflect the differences between the speech patterns of the different cultures, it did not always convince me. Some of the Dutch seaman seemed very Cockney-like in their expressions, for example. I did, however, really enjoy the historical cut-and-thrust of the narrative. It was quite gritty at times, but measured and controlled. Mitchell's control of exposition is masterly.I would also like to mention a personal note on the dichotomy of the perfidious Englishmen / honourable Dutchmen in the novel. South Africa also faced this international brinkmanship during the stretch from the 17th to 19th centuries. I obviously know this history better than that of Japan, but I found the interactions between the English and Dutch very realistic, despite the somewhat clichéd situation. Mitchell is good at presenting the characters as rounded human beings, preventing the story from falling into an 'us vs them' mindset. The foreign policies of the different nations convinced me no-end. We have an expression in Afrikaans for a good result to something: 'Die Kaap is weer Hollands', i.e. the Cape is again Dutch, reflecting our own colonial history. Mitchell trod the line between strawmen and real humanity very carefully, and I really appreciate that.

[thorold_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this entertaining, but a bit unsatisfying: the detail seemed to be convincing in the areas I knew nothing about (Japanese culture), but felt a little rough around the edges where I did have a bit of prior knowledge. I liked the way Mitchell avoids the obvious outcomes of his romantic plot, but I felt uncomfortable with his technique of deliberate alienation, where he conspicuously changes the one big historical fact you know about the period, to foreground the notion that all the rest is fiction too. That's all very well in Brechtian theatre, but I don't see what it achieves in an otherwise realistic historical novel, except to annoy the reader. Seems like a comfortable cop-out for a writer who doesn't want to be taken to task for any minor slips.

[meredk · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful book -- terrific writing, great story and characters. Fascinating to read about Japan at the beginning of the 19th century.

[visibleghost · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

David Mitchell has blended genres in some of his previous works with great success. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet is historical fiction and only historical fiction. He does squeeze in some folklore, some myths, and a couple of tall tales. They are inserted into the book through character's conversations and thoughts but not in a direct manner. Mitchell has played around with the historical fiction genre in the past but this time he immerses himself in it. And yes, he does very well in this genre.It takes place in Nagasaki, Japan beginning in the year 1799. The Dutch have a small trading island they are confined to and act as Japan's ears and eyes for news from Europe. The Japanese are forbidden from traveling there and Europeans are forbidden from entering Japan. The powers in the world are changing and Japan is uneasy. There is intrigue on the little Dutch outpost, power struggles, betrayals, plotting, and scheming. The same is true of Nagasaki. It is a book best read slow and savored. There will be temptations to speed ahead to see what happens next but those are best avoided. Part of the pleasure of slowing down is enjoying Mitchell's talents of the written word. Particularly delightful, is the communication shortcomings of translating Dutch into Japanese and vice versa. He also inserts thoughts throughout conversations which works quite well. It's a book I enjoyed thoroughly and have a feeling it is also one that is indelibly etched into my mind. Definitely one of my best reads of the year.

[pak6th · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An astonishing tale of Imperial Japan at the turn of the century from the 1700s to the 1800s. Japan is a isolated country, by choice, but allows a small group headed by the Dutch to trade with them from a tiny island called Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor. The men must never actually enter Japan, and they are at the mercy of the yearly visit by a Dutch trading vessel. Jacob has been sent to help weed out corruption at the trading post but the web of corruption, lies and cheating is over whelming and is nurtured by the Japanese. Then Jacob meets a smart and beautiful, but scarred, woman, a midwife who is allowed to study under the Dutch doctor. Their interaction will color and change both their lives but in ways you will not foresee. As the new century dawns the Dutch are displaced by the British with huge ramifications. The first part of this tale can be a bit slow but stick with it for the tale will take you places well beyond what you expect. And it will test your thoughts of society politically, socially and morally as it is difficult to tell which group is more corrupt, stupid, or cruel.

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well-written tale set in nineteenth century Japan.

[pgmcc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Jacob de Zoet’s experiences while working in Japan at the end of the 18th century for the Dutch East Indies Company form the backbone of this novel. Mitchell shows us how Western Europeans interfaced with the Japanese nation of the time, and how trade was conducted between the two cultures.I found the first third of this novel to be entertaining and informative with snippets of information being provided to set the events of the story in a historical context. The author succeeded in bringing elements into his tale that demonstrated the consequences in Japan of events in other parts of the world.The middle portion of the book is an adventure, while the final stage introduces new turns of events and creates an environment that presents new opportunities and challenges for the characters involved. Mitchell succeeds in sharing the inner thoughts and emotions of these characters with the reader while weaving in the aftermath of earlier events.One technique that I feel was over used is the interlacing of lines of thought with lines of prayers or other on-going talk. The first couple of times I noticed it being use I thought it was well done and informed the reader of what someone was thinking while a document was being read out. After the first couple of encounters with this technique I began to feel Mitchell liked this approach so much he was determined to use it at every opportunity. Overall an enjoyable book with the first third being its strongest part and the ending being quite satisfactory.I have read Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas and Black Swan Green and I would say The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is not like either of those earlier works. I find Mitchell’s works interesting and on occasion thought provoking, but while I will continue reading his novels I do not expect him to produce a book that I would consider giving five stars.

[clfisha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Edo Japan is cloistered society, no one is allowed in or out. Foreigners...or rather traders.. are only tolerated on tiny claustrophobic Dejima. a place full of eccentrics, criminals and corrupt company men. rThe Dutch have won a lucrative claim to tade but the Companies in trouble .. but then so is their homeland.Mitchell seems to have thrown the literary rulebook out of the window and still managed to create a wonderful book. Structurally dis-jointed with a story cut into three acts, each with a seeming new plot direction, a different tone & pace plus constant extra characters thrown into the mix. Then there's the small wee info dumps of historical oddity, loose ends, a chaotic meandering to different genres and somewhat oddly gentle beginning.Quite frankly the man is an alchemical genius. This novel is utterly amazing, a wonderful historical fiction with battles, adventure, romance, political intrigue and with a soupcon of the fantastical. Mitchell's writing is wonderful (as usual); with cinematic cityscape sweeps, vivid and intense glimpses of 18th century life, impressive meshing of the myriad characters and plots, all effortlessly juggled right up until end. And my what an end, I doubt even a life threatening event could of dragged me away!The highlight for me was watching Mitchell breathe life into the different languages: the difficulties and misunderstandings that result are so sharp and vivid you can almost taste it. The depth that this brings to this historical tale can not be downplayed.This is a deeply rich, rewarding novel. A stunning piece of storytelling wrapped around a truly fascinating period of history. I recommend this to practically everyone although as this is not your typical David Mitchell, fans maybe be disappointed. Although whilst I really enjoyed Cloud Atlas I simply adore this.

[alexleonard_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took me a little while to get into this novel, but when I did, I was completely hooked.The first act introduced a wide range of characters and, perhaps as a result of knowing nothing of the book prior to beginning it, I was a little thrown by the period in which the novel was set. However it soon became a rich world, in which the characters developed and grew strongly.Perhaps the second and subsequent parts of the novel were easier to digest with the change of narrator each chapter, rather than a focus solely on the main protagonist's point of view, which, coupled with the need for detailed setting of the scene, made the first part of the book a little slower going.Indeed, within these subsequent parts of the novel, greater intrigue and a more clearly defined plot raise their head and encourage swifter page turns.David Mitchell brings the period to life and has written a fine novel, which, potentially, if someone had given a plot summary prior to my purchase, may not have appealed to me, but I'm very glad to have read this quite excellent novel and have already added another David Mitchell book to my wishlist.