The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi (Hardcover)

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• This item: The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi by William Scott Wilson

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• Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

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• The Book of Five Rings: A Classic Text on the Japanese Way of the Sword (incl. "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War") by Miyamoto Musashi

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Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai by Yamamoto Tsunetomo 4.5 out of 5 stars (22)  £5.49

The Book of Five Rings: A Classic Text on the Japanese Way of the Sword (incl. "The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War") by Miyamoto Musashi 3.7 out of 5 stars (3)  £5.49

The Book of Five Rings by Musashi Miyamoto 4.4 out of 5 stars (28)  £12.59

Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa 4.8 out of 5 stars (39)  £18.49

The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master by Takuan Soho 4.1 out of 5 stars (7)  £5.49

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Review
"Asked to name the best swordsman ever, most Japanese would pick Musashi, the famous 17th-century samurai turned artist who is the subject of more than 50 movies and dozens of books. But most of those focus on his superior warrior skills. This fascinating new biography by Wilson, an American translator of samurai literature, goes much deeper, seeking to explain what ultimately drove Musashi from sword-fighting to Zen teachings, ink paintings and writing. He literally embodies the adage 'the pen is mightier than the sword." -Newsweek International
This is the perfect book to satiate your desire to experience the sacrifices and triumphs inherent to a life lived by the sword. Flaunt
"While Miyamoto Musashi is one of the martial arts world's favorite warriors, relatively little is known about him. Thanks to historian William Scott Wilson, that's about to change. In The Lone Samurai: the Life of Miyamoto Musashi, Wilson presents a detailed account of the Japanese swordsman's life and quest for truth, perfection and enlightenment." -Black Belt Magazine
"It's a thoughtful, entertaining work written by a passionate scholar who avoids the pitfalls posed by a host of obscure Japanese names by using vivid descriptions and a fast-paced narrative. Sometimes dense but never dull, the prose is part history lesson, part detective story, as Wilson sifts thorough various conflicting accounts of the time." -The Post & Courier (Charleston, SC)
"Wilson, a veteran translator and a longtime student of Japanese language and literature, shows clearly the influence of Zen on Musashi's thinking art, and writing. Appendices document Musashi's role as a Robin Hood-like folk hero in Japaneseliterature and film. Excellent notes and glossary provide context for the swordsman's life. A fascinating glimpse of a central figure in traditional Japanese culture." -Kirkus Reviews
"Wilson turns his talents to Musashi's turbulent life as a swordsman and teacher, crisply retelling, with background for Western readers, the story known to so many Japanese. A particular contribution of this study is Wilson's account of how Miyamoto's life became legend in later centuries?in the last 100 years there have been 43 films about him! . . . Lively and balanced, it will please those looking for a readable but serious presentation of medieval Bushido and samurai culture." ?Library Journal
"Wilson, having translated Musashi's book into English (The Book of Five Rings), turns for the first time to biography, with as complete a life of the man behind the sword as possible." -Publishers Weekly
"The author combines many antidotes about Musashi with excerpts from his writings to imbue him with a vibrancy lacking from more sedate treatments of this complex individual. Wilson is as skilled with wordplay as Musashi was with the sword, and he has exhaustively researched his subject. The book is a compelling journey through seventeenth-century Japanese society, replete with numerous footnotes and a glossary to aid the reader with the referenced Japanese terms and locales. Anyone interested in the martial arts or Japanese history will enjoy this superb biography of the 'lone samurai' who owed allegiance to no man, but only to his adventurous spirit." -ForeWord Magazine
"Wilson has scoured all available Japanese sources to create a highly readable account of this iconoclastic samurai, who notonly contributed to the practice and philosophy of swordsmanship but also make his mark in all Zen-related arts: monochrome ink painting, calligraphy, poetry, sculpture, the tea ceremony, architecture, and Noh theater. . . . Highly recommended." -Choice
"William Scott Wilson's newest book offers up the most expansive English-language biography of Musashi to date. This lively and informative treatment is the product of a careful sorting and weighing of earlier works, in search of, as Wilson puts it, 'the single, consistent life within.' Wilson unravels and reweaves his material into a sometimes surprising narrative that significantly enriches our knowledge of Musashi and the legends surrounding him." -Journal of Asian Martial Arts
In The Lone Samurai: the Life of Miyamoto Musashi, William Scott Wilson draws upon his considerable expertise as a preeminent translator of classic samurai texts to write an original biography of the legendary Japanese swordsman who lived and fought in the 17th century feudal Japan . . . Enthusiastically recommended reading, The Lone Samurai is a superlatively written biography of a truly remarkable man. Midwest Book Review


Product Description
The first biography of this world-renowned and undefeated swordsman, The Lone Samurai follows the dramatic escapades of Musashi - author of The Book of Five Rings - from his initial victory at the age of 13 to his early 'retirement' at 30 to pursue a more spiritual path. Wilson provides a riveting account of Musashi's trials and his triumphs, as well as a portrait of the turbulent and dangerous times in which he lived. The author supplements the story with fascinating insights into Musashi's mind - how he turned his opponents' strength against them, how he outwitted even the most skilful assailant, how he honed and eventually perfected his style of swordsmanship and philosophy.

3 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest of Samurai?, 1 Jul 2007 By  Terry Tozer "TJSKA.com" (Reading & Bracknell, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Miyamoto Musashi has to be one of the greatest Samurai that ever lived and his lives exploits and adventures are thrilling and exciting to read. Who better then than the highly talented and travelled William Scott Wilson to translate this historical masterpiece. I'm going to have to read it again so that I can give you a better review. Amazon deleted my last one, (along with 150 other reviews!) which detailed the stories in the book.....but....it's just the sort of well written and EXCITING book that you would want to re-read anyway. If you're into Japanese culture, history and Budo (Martial Arts), then this title should take pride of place in your library! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the shizzle :-), 9 Mar 2009 By  Stazbumpa (Blighty) - See all my reviews William Scott Wilson is a talented writer and translator, and this attempt to uncover the man behind the legend of Miyamoto Musashi is his best work in my opinion. "Lone Samurai" goes very well as a partner to his translation of The Book of Five Rings, but works as a stand alone read for anyone remotely interested in the subject. It is by no means difficult to read either, and the authors use of a reference section at the back to further explain points in the text is extremely useful. It is one of the most informative and entertaining books I have ever read. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   5 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars The Lone Samurai: The Life of Miyamoto Musashi, 18 Mar 2008 By  David Riches (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Yes, you must have heard of him, Musashi the legendary kenshi (sword master) of 17th Century Japan, author of the famous Book of Five Rings. This is a book about the great man. Warrior, philosopher, artist and down-right hard man! Wilson has written an authoritative and accessible book on the life and times of this master. A master of his chosen martial art when it meant life and death in the most real sense, get it wrong and you die - period! A man of the greatest discipline and training in whatever he turned his mind to. This is a book about a man who fought in real hand to hand battles and became a supreme inspiration and strategist even now 400 years later. It doesn't matter if you've never handled a sword or even if you never intend to, this is abook written about and inspiration. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 3 customer reviews...		Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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