Clavell's Masterpiece, Inscribed
Shogun: A Novel of Japan
Publication: New York: Atheneum, 1975. First Edition.
Notes: The first book in Clavell's Asia Saga, a series of novels set in feudal Japan, and a worldwide bestseller that remains popular in the US as it approaches its 50th anniversary. The book was turned into a hugely popular TV miniseries in 1980 and a new series is coming to Hulu in 2024.
Clavell (1921–1994) was born in Australia, raised in Britain, and later became a naturalized US citizen. Clavell's fascination with Asian culture developed in a most unlikely way. In 1940, Clavell joined the British army; after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the army sent him to Singapore to fight the Japanese. He never made it. His ship was sunk; he survived and a Dutch boat rescued him. Clavell asked to go ashore at the nearest port to rejoin the fight. Soon after, he was shot, captured, and incarcerated in a series of brutal Japanese-run prisoner-of-war camps. He spent three years surviving on starvation rations, but rather than hating the Japanese, he became fascinated with their culture and Shogun grew out of Clavell's World War Two experiences.
This was Clavell's first big book (both commercially and physically), and while it likely had a relatively large print run, its 802-page bulk and the popularity of the novel make nice first editions uncommon. The novel came out first in the US in June 1975. The UK edition was published in September (See, Honolulu Star-Telegram, May 2, 1975, p. A4: "...his new book, Shogun, comes out next month."; Sunday Telegraph (UK), August 10, 1975, p. 8: "Shogun—an 800 page work set in feudal Japan—comes out next month.")
Edition + Condition: First edition (stated). A nice copy with light bumping to the spine ends in a lightly bumped dust jacket. The red lettering on the spine is slightly faded and there are a couple of very short tears on the jacket edges. The heavy page block has sagged a bit, causing convexity to the upper spine and the top edge of the boards are lightly sunstruck. An above average, very good / very good copy, to be sure.
This copy is one of those inscribed by Clavell on his Shogun book tour on the title page: "This is for Beni [or Berri] H—a lady of quality also. New York, July 10, 1975. Best, James C." (Clavell usually signed this way; the book was published in June 1975, making this among the first copies Clavell signed).
Item No: #366287
Price: $4,200