The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet
David Mitchell
2010
Sceptre, Hodder and Stoughton, HB
480
£18.99
9780340921562
Fans of David Mitchell will not be disappointed by his wonderful fifth novel. They may be disappointed that he has eschewed any pyrotechnics with his chapter lay out and there are no running themes from his previous books (including Cloud Atlas) in this tour de force. However, this is his most accomplished novel. This is a novelisation of a true encounter of a British war ship in the only port with communication with the West in 18th century Japan. We follow the exploits of a young Dutch trader, Jacob de Zoet, hoping to make his fortune and impress his high class love's father back in Holland.
Mitchell wears his extensive knowledge of 18th century Japan lightly, but uses the ban on any Christian books wonderfully and with great literary tension early in Jacob's arrival in Nagasaki. From there on in the reader is whisked along with all the intrigues on both sides of the bamboo curtain which separates the infidel Christians from the rest of the Japanese, who are equally desperate to have a piece of the trading action with the corrupt Dutch East India Trading company.
With beautiful language, and intense storytelling, Mitchell draws us into this hidden world and takes us to places we could never conceive with the consummate ease of a great writer. He straddles the gap between literary novels and popular novels and I will be very surprised if he does not win the Booker this year. Add it to your summer reading list and just wallow in its sumptuousness.
- © British Journal of General Practice, 2010.
