Rating: 
Summary: The life and times of William Adams
Review: A gripping, well-written account of Willaim Adams, the first Englishman to reach Japan, and the short-lived attempt by the English to expand its burgeoning Empire to this most unique country. Milton does and excellent job of piecing together the various extent contemporary accounts--including those left behind by Adams himself--into a facinating story. One will be disappointed, however, if one expects this to be a detailed account of Williams Adams himself--as far as I know, an impossibility given the amount of material that he left behind. A considerable amount of the narrative deals with trade in East Asia, the workings of the Jesuits in Japan, and the English factory established at Hirado.
Rating:
Summary: A strange, new world
Review: A most interesting book, although the title is a bit misleading. While the book does spend a good bit of time on the story of William Adams, an English seaman who found himself marooned in Japan, it is really more a straightforward account of the attempts by the English and the Dutch to open Japan to trade.
The rivalries between the two nations, and between the Protestant English and Dutch and the Catholic priests who were already in Japan, make up a good bit of the book. (When Adams arrived in Japan, he was in quite a bit of danger from the Jesuits, who feared that through him the shogun would discover that, contrary to what they had led him to believe, there was not "one Christian faith".) The alliances shifted, and often those of both nations who were tending to trade in the Far East, were caught up in events happening far away, as their countries made war or peace on each other thousands of miles away.
Then, Japan enters the period of sakoku, closed country, and it will be a two centuries before it is again open to the West.
There is a good deal of reliance on primary sources, though I could wish that the end notes were more specific. But this isn't a scholarly work, so I suppose I should be glad that we are given end notes at all!
Rating:
Summary: Great, great book
Review: A superb, readable history loosely organized around William Adams, the real Anjin-Sama. Adams' achievements were extraordinary; Clavell didn't have to stretch all that much to create the Blackthorn character in Shogun. The incredible voyage across the two oceans, and then surviving against all odds to achieve prominence and nobility status as a foreigner in medieval Japan are riveting accounts. Writing with great lucidity, Milton relies a lot on personal and British East India company correspondence to paint this portrait of not only Williams, but of the budding efforts of the English to participate in Asian commerce. Thus, we read not only about Adams, but about an failed ocean adventure above Russian seeking a route through the ice packs, tromping through Siam in search of rare woods, tension with the Spanish, tensions with the Dutch, and about the tight-fisted prudes back in the London office disapproving of their factors whoring their way across Asia. A cast of characters --some funny, some diabolical, many mediocre-- flesh out Milton's portrait of early English commercial efforts. Milton also gives us some interesting insight into the cultur of and politics of Japan at the time of Tokugawa Ieyasu's assention to the Shogunate. A lot of attention is given not just to commerce, but to the inextricably linked issue of religion. Missionaries' efforts in Japan make for a fascinating and unique read, since Japan was so much more sophisticated than either the those the Europeans typically missioned to, as well as the Europeans themselves. The communication gap between the Japanese and the Europeans, and William's ability to overcome it, bears careful attention. The few pages about Ieyasu's brilliant defeat Osaka castle is fascinating by itself. I read the hardcover version, which had a wonderful rough cut on the edge, which may make some prefer that over the paperback.
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Summary: Quick Read on Western Trade with the Early Shogonate
Review: Fans of James Clavell's classic "Shogun" will enjoy reading of the historical figure the novel was based on. However, this really the story of western trade with Japan in the early shogunate and the east in the 1600's using William Adam's (Anjin Sama) as a "hook". The Samurai William character does not feature too large in the narrative. Those interested in the subject, and wanting a quick read will enjoy this. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Another Piece of Popular History from Milton
Review: Giles Milton has written another popular piece of history for the fans of Nathaniel's Nutmeg (the events of that book even make an important cameo appearance in this book, Samurai William). William Adams is the title character, as per the subtitle of the Englishman who opened Japan, and he is a fascinating subject for a work of non-fiction. Giles Milton, though, is also lucky to have a supporting cast of Dutch and Englishmen to add further adventure and villiany to the main story. The major caveat of the book is that it is told entirely from the perspective of the Europeans. This works to a certain extent in this book as the author is presenting how one culture (European) views another. This will dissappoint those who wanted to learn more about Japan and the Japanese themselves during this period. It is an exciting tale well told even if it does not match Giles Milton's finest piece of work, the highly recommended Big Chief Elizabeth. Samurai William is a good read and a must for those who enjoyed Nathaniel's Nutmeg.
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Summary: Another meaty history which blends well with Milton's others
Review: Giles Milton seems to be making a good career out of gutsy little histories related to Britain's Tudor and Stuart trading history, and he does them very well. This latest offering is the well known but little examined history of British trading in Japan. I say well known - but really only in its most skeleton of detail - until now. William Adams, who was wrecked on the shores of Japan in the very eary seventeenth century has been written about at least in passing in a number of other histories before - and turned into a historical fiction for James Clavells' novel. However a full blown history, in a historical context has been a long time coming. Milton's great talent is for his blending of period documents within the text of the book, to bring the past directly to us in all its archaic, but usually very clear details. Its fascinating reading and provides a light, humourous tone to the book which at times could get very bogged down in minutiae. Essentially this is a clash of cultures - that of the insulated Japanese who did not wish to have contact withe the outside world, the British who essentially did not choose to understand the Japanese culture or the types of goods which they valued, and the Jesuits who had insinuated their way into the Japanese court and were very anti-British. William Adams provided a junction for all three parties, but it was a narrow line he was forced to take and his negotiations and diplomacy against the competing interests was often taken in bad part or very often ignored. But Adams is only part of the story, Giles Milton is very good at building up a picture of the time and creating a living history in which British trading with Japan is explored in all its details and all its main characters. I don't think this is his best book so far - Big Chief Elizabeth (which examines the history of America's first colony) has my vote for best - however this book is a great demonstration of how these small histories are best written. If you like this then try Big Chief Elizabeth and Nathaniel's Nutmeg (about the South East Asian Spice trade in Nutmeg) all set in the same approximate period.
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Summary: Master story teller Gilles Milton does it again
Review: Gilles Milton is a spell binding teller of tales. His latest epic is on the amazing saga of William Adams, an Englishman who washed up on Japan's shores in 1600. Adams barely survived his first weeks in Japan but then went on to be a Shogun's trusted confidant, who lived out his days a prosperous man in Japan.
Just as Natahaniel's Nutmeg was about more than the one man's efforts to maintain England's place in the Spice Islands and Big Queen Elizabeth was about more than early English colonization of America, Samurai William is about more than the Englishman who opened Japan to European trade.
Milton gives the reader a look at 16th/17th Centruy sea faring, the rivalry between European's Protestant and Catholic nations and of course Japan.
Milton's greatest gift is his ability to unearth amazing stories relevant to his central theme and then regale the reader with them. And Milton does not shy away from any topic, be it sexual or violent. Yet his stories are never gratutious.
So far Milton has written a book year for four years. I hope he can maintain the pace. Each volume is eagerly awaited by what I would guess is a growing legion of readers.
Rating:
Summary: Going native in Japan
Review: Going native in Japan According to the book's title, this is the story of the British sailor William Adams, who landed in Japan in 1600 and stayed there until his death in 1620. He became a trusted consultant to the shogun and Emperor Ieyasu who admired his seafaring skills of navigation and also shipbuilding. Williams was, by no means, the first European in Japan. Preceding him by about half a century were Spaniards and Portuguese. Mostly, they were Jesuits and Franciscans bent on converting the local population to the Catholic faith. Soon further English and Dutch traders arrived, and the continuous conflict between Catholics and Protestants was ready to begin. Both the British and the Dutch established a Factory, to control trade and get rich quickly. The start capital for the British enterprise was supplied by the East India Company under Sir Thomas Smythe. Richard Cocks ran the Factory. He hired Adams for his invaluable connections to the Japanese `court. More than once Adams saved the future of the company and the lives of some of the English. Milton shows us the surprise of the Westerners at the high culture of Japan. He describes that culture in quite some detail so that the British experience can be judged correctly in comparison with the home country. Milton also gives us most interesting details on the trading of the day and the miscalculation that happened too often. Not surprisingly he mentions the trade in nutmeg, a link to one of his previous books. The Factory was completely mismanaged and had to close on Dec. 24, 1623. At the same time the grandson of shogun Ieyasu started a campaigns against all foreigners, throwing them out of the country and effectively closing the door on Japan for the next 200 years. Samurai William, who left a wife and daughter behind in England , started a new life with a Japanese family. He certainly was unique in being the only Westerner to achieve and maintain such influence over the emperor of Japan.By rights he is famous to this day. But Milton gives us the story of the English settlement and trading post, rather neglecting the story of William Adams. Also, he insists on constantly using the original English language of the time - even when it is not at all necessary to give flavor to the narrative. This gets to be very irritating.
Rating:
Summary: Good but Lacks Breadth
Review: I agree with the previous reviewer. There is a distinct lack of Japanese sources and some careless errors with Japan-related words, places, etc. It would have been very interesting to see how members of the court, etc. took to this Englishman entering their ranks. Also, the book basically skips from Adams being washed up on shore to him becoming a member of the court. I don't know if it's because Adams neglected his diary for a period or what, but it would have been fascinating to find out just how Adams learned Japanese, made his connections, etc. Further, the author obviously has a soft spot for Adams. Whenever somebody doubts or disagrees with Adams, the author finds some vindication for the protaganist to prove that the other party was in error. That said, the book was a good read. The writing flowed and the insight into the English/Dutch involved in the East Asia trade was interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but not as advertised!
Review: I cannot tell you how excited I was to see, purchase, and read this book. A biography of Will Adams, the real Blackthorne from James Clavell's Shogun. The man who befriended Tokugawa Ieyasu. I didn't hesitate to buy it and I couldn't wait to read it. The inside cover even said this was the story behind "Shogun." There is so little available in English about this time period and Ieyasu Tokugawa's unification of Japan, I was so happy to finally see something. Don't get me wrong, its not a bad book. It is just not the book it says it is. The book is only partially about Will Adams and Tokugawa Ieyasu and is more a general look at the first English, Dutch, and Portuguese in Japan. Interesting, yes, but the true story behind "Shogun" no. Even the bibliography does not recognized the second of two English biographies of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the one by Conrad Totman, which is fantastic. Its a neat little book, with some interesting historical characters and quotes, but of its 300 pages i would say less than 1/2 are devoted to Will Adams. Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the most important people in Japanese history. Will Adams story is one of the most interesting in history. They are still waiting for their story to be told. Take this book out of the library, I don't recommend buying it. And this is from someone who lives and breathes this stuff.
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