The First Samurai - by Karl F Friday (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Was samurai warrior Taira Masakado a quixotic megalomaniac or a hero swept up by events beyond his control? Did he really declare himself to be the ""New Emperor""? Did he suffer divine retribution for his ego and ambition? Filled with insurrections, tribal uprisings, pirate disturbances, and natural disasters, this action-packed account of Masakado's insurrection offers a captivating introduction to the samurai, their role in 10th-century society, and the world outside the capital-a must-read for those interested in early Japan, samurai warfare, or the mystique of ancient warriors.

Karl Friday (Athens, GA) is a Professor of History at the University of Georgia. A renowned expert on the samurai and early Japanese history, he has authored four books and appeared on numerous A&E, History, and Discovery Channel programs. He is active on several Web forums.

From the Back Cover

Praise for

The First Samurai

"In his lucid and meticulously researched reconstruction of the tenth-century rebel Taira Masakado, Karl Friday illuminates the attitudes and institutions of tenth-century Japan, and explains the enduring appeal of this audacious man who strove to be emperor. Through the life of Masakado, Friday brings alive the patterns of early Japanese warfare, and the complex interaction between central and regional authority. The First Samurai will remain the definitive study of the legendary warrior and his age for years to come."

--Thomas D. Conlan, Bowdoin College

An amazing true story of war, ambition, and a terrible destiny.

When Japan's imperial court declared, in the year 940, that the "punishment of Heaven" would descend upon Taira Masakado, they meant it. First, Masakado was defeated in battle and beheaded. Next, his head hung from a tree for three months before, according to legend, it flew off to the east where to this day Masakado's cursed spirit delivers calamity to one Tokyo neighborhood. What could this brave young warrior have done to merit such a horrifying fate? Find out in The First Samurai.

About the Author

Karl Friday is a professor of history at the University of Georgia. A renowned expert on the samurai and early Japanese history, he is the author of four books and has appeared on numerous A&E, History, and Discovery Channel programs.