Jacob tries to survive in the cut-throat atmosphere of Dejima, where the Dutch East India Company is trading with the suspicious, closed Japan of 1799. There are power struggles among both the Dutch and the Japanese and of course the love interest, which leads to a heroic mission and a rather messy ending, especially when the English turn up. It's beautifully written, moving, funny and very clever (and there's a cast list at the end!).
(Victoria Grey-Edwards - bwl 79 Winter 2016 ) |
