Imagine yourself in a land far, far away, in a time long passed from memory. Now imagine this: Napoleon Bonaparte is striding across Europe, and the fledgling American republic is edging ever closer toward the expansionist vision of Thomas Jefferson. The Dutch East India Company is gasping its last breath. The Dutch mercantile empire, already shadowed by the mighty British Navy, has gone adrift as its homeland succumbs to the little Corsican general. In this fateful time, as the world slips from the 18th century into the 19th, you find yourself in a tiny Dutch trading post stranded on the shores of Nagasaki. You’re there through the magic of a brilliant historical novel.
This is the setting in which David Mitchell grounds the story of Jacob de Zoet, a young Dutch clerk just arrived for his first posting for the Dutch East India Company. Through the magic of Mitchell’s artistry, you stand by de Zoet’s side, breathing the rarified air of Japan in an era when few outsiders ever had that opportunity.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell (2010) 481 pages ★★★★★
An experience that lands the reader in a fascinating time and place
Books and lectures in history can teach me a great deal about this world, but I can only come close to experiencing it through historical novels such as The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet. It’s the rarest of historians who can evoke the spirit, the mindset, and the texture of daily life in a long-ago time and place. The very best historical novelists do just that. And that’s why I read historical fiction.
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is a brilliant historical novel. It’s a beautifully written tale of love, courage, and faith in a world dominated by greed and the lust for power. It’s David Mitchell’s fifth novel in an already distinguished literary career.
About the author
David Mitchell is the author of nine novels (one of which is scheduled to be published in 2114). He has also written numerous articles and short stories as well as the libretto for two operas. His best known work is the novel Cloud Atlas, which was adapted to film in 2012. Mitchell was born in 1969 and raised in England. He holds a BA and MA in literature from the University of Kent.
For further reading
If you enjoy reading history in fictional form, check out 20 most enlightening historical novels. And if you’re looking for exciting historical novels, check out Top 10 historical mysteries and thrillers reviewed here. You might also be interested in Top 10 great popular novels reviewed on this site.
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