Maker of Modern Japan: The Life of Tokugawa Ieyasu

Rating:
Summary: Rare English account of Japan's feudal military history
Review: Although Sadler's biography suffers from his somewhat disjointed writing style and uncritical admiration of his subject, it is a rare English-language account of the life of one of the most important figures in Japanese history. The book focuses on Ieyasu's military campaigns and the political intrigues of the Age of Warring States; thus, it also revolves around the stories of the other two 'Great Generals' of Japan, Nobunaga and Hideyoshi. Sadler goes into great detail in his accounts of individual battles and sieges, so it excels as a sourcebook for the student of Japanese military history. One shortcoming, however, is the book's tendency to refer to relatively obscure characters of the period without introduction or explanation, so a general history of Japan (perhaps George Sansom's three-volume set) is recommended as a companion. Despite its defects, this book will provide invaluable information to anyone interested in medieval Japan or the history of the samurai