Pushkin Press

The Samurai of the Red Carnation - Denis Theriault, Louise Rogers Lalaurie

An irresistibly winning romantic historical adventure, set in medieval Japan and tinged with fantasy, revolving around the art of waka poetry Matsuo is expected to be a samurai, like his father before him. But as he is training in the art of war, he realises he was destined for a different art altogether. Turning his back on his future as a warrior of the sword, he decides instead to do battle with words, as a poet. Thus begins a story of intrigue and adventure, passion and betrayal. Matsuo's quest to find his true self, and his true love, takes him across medieval Japan, through bloody battlefields and burning cities. But his ultimate test will be the uta awase - a tournament where Japan's greatest poets engage in fierce verbal combat for the honour of victory, and where Matsuo will find himself fighting for his life. The Samurai of the Red Carnation is both a thrilling, swashbuckling adventure and a sensitive meditation on love and poetry. Denis Thériault, is known for his award-winning novel, The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman, which also made extensive use of original poetry in Japanese styles and which won the author the Japan-Canada Book Prize.

Product names and technical specifications are provided by merchants. Always confirm the exact variant in the merchant’s checkout.