In Little Need of Divine Intervention: Takezaki Suenaga's Scrolls of the Mongol Invasions of Japan (Cornell East Asia Series, No 113)

Rating:
Summary: Great Help, But Only The Last 100 Pages
Review: After having been given the task of researching the plausibility of the Mongol invasions of Japan, I checked out this book from the local library. The first one-third of the book is a translation of the manuscripts of a samurai after the invasions seeking rewards for his service. This was not very useful to my research but possibly the only English translation of this important work that is easily accessible. The next one-third is a translation of other works pertaining to the Mongol invasions. These works were not necessary for any mainstream analysis of these events. The final one-third consisted of the author's personal research on the counter of the popular Japanese sentiment of divine intervention. I found this to be helpful and insightful, yet too short. If more of the book had been devoted to the author's interpretations and conclusions, the book would have been a better read. From a purely reference point of view, this book is quite useful.