Description: In the eighteenth century, forty-seven samurai avenged the death of their master in a plot that would take over two years to complete. After succeeding in their mission, the masterless samurai--known as "ronin"--all committed ritual suicide. The story, which is a national legend, remains the most potent example of Japan's deeply rooted cultural imperative of honor, persistence, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Review Quotes: "This is a tightly focused, perfectly pitched retelling of the story and a perfect entry point for anyone coming to the story for the first time. The Keanu Reeves version may have all the spectacle, but this version has all the heart."--BleedingCool.com
"Like the great Chivalric tales of Europe, The 47 Ronin harks back to an earlier, simpler time and an idealized concept of honor. It displays a dedication to honor, comradeship, and nobility that few real people can live up to, yet deep inside our souls we yearn to be as worthy as those examples."--Joe Gordon, Forbidden Planet International "Despite being widely known in both Japan and abroad, the story of the assassination of a court official named Kira Yoshihisa by the 47 Ronin--and their subsequent suicide--has seldom been retold with accuracy since its occurrence in December 1702. . . . Readers interested in accurate Japanese history rather than Hollywood embellishment will enjoy this well-done retelling of the legendary event."--The Japan Times "A masterful retelling of one of the greatest stories in Japanese culture. An engrossing, engaging, emotional and unforgettable epic."--Jonathan Ross, BBC television presenter "Wilson uses exactly the right scenes to tell this famous story, creating a quick, engaging read."--Library Journal "Spare and understated, the script sticks close to historical events and elegantly recounts the legend's central elements."--School Library Journal