Musashi: The Novel is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling novel in Japan. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity.
This is the story of a man torn between his friendships, love and devotion to the sword. Filled with episodes of exciting duels, his travels throughout Japan, and the memorable characters he meets along the way, Musashi is revealed to be a flawed hero, a genius with the sword who dispatches pretenders one after another with minimal effort yet finds little pleasure in it.
Famous for fighting 62 duels without a single defeat, Musashi is a true philosopher warrior, author of the monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings—one of the most widely read books in history. Although he was without peer, his path to glory was fraught with seemingly impossible challenges, tragic losses and emotional turmoil. And while his destiny seems clear, in order to achieve it he must open a new chapter and leave his old life behind.
In the last book, Musashi is left with his final obstacle, the great swordsman Sasaki Kojiro who has an untarnished reputation and is legendary for his skill in battle. As Musashi journeys the inevitable path that will lead to Kojiro, he encounters old friends and new enemies. Devoting himself to mediation and Zen teaching, he realizes that the pursuit of glory is fruitless and the only path to success can be found through self-reliance and discipline. To become truly happy, he must defeat not only his greatest rival but also his own delf-doubt, tying up loose ends in the process. He meets with Otsu as he prepares to fight Sasaki, whom he meets wielding only a wooden pole, emerging as the most formidable swordsman in the land.
