Silence

By: Shusaku Endo

Narrated by: David Holt

Recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called Endo's supreme achievement" and "one of the twentieth century's finest novels".

Considered controversial ever since its first publication, it tackles the thorniest religious issues of belief and faith head on.

A novel of historical fiction, it is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to seventeenth century Japan, who endured persecution that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion.

©1966 Shusaku Endo (P)2009 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

“Brian Moore’s Black Robe, about the fate, usually violent, of 17th century Jesuit priests bent on converting the native Canadians had to be the last grisly word on the subject. Or so I thought. Then I head this … Utterly mesmerizing.” Sue Arnold, The Guardian

A Re-listen and then Re-listen again

Very informative. A part of Japanese History I never suspected. Really have to think more about it. Recommend it to people interested in history and how Christian Missionaries were received and thought of by different cultures. Also looks at the problem of Judas. If your faith is week, better stay away!

Great Novel

David Holt does a wonderful job reading this book. The novel is a mental rollercoaster of emotion. Silence is so loud at times.

Powerful story-telling

Fascinating story about Jesuit priests in Japan; well-read by Narrator. The struggle really gripped my attention. Very thought-provoking subject. Not an easy story but well worth it!

Serve Thy Neighbor Not Transforms Thy Neighbor

This novel opened my thoughts to the possible truth of accepting one religion over another. The Best Quote, "the persistent affection of an ugly woman is an intolerable burden for a man" -Inoue of Chikugo.

Silence

This is an extraordinary story it might prove tedious to those who have not been deeply involved in any or some religious observance it deals with a major problem for Christians who have to understand why God does not intervene to protect innocent or almost innocent people by the millions from harm
Without understanding why God permits tremendous suffering our faith is sorely tested and ultimately many like myself a Bandan faith in God and depend on positive relationships with good people all over the world and work to reduce the suffering of human beings which the God we believed in seems notTo do it is supposed to be a third film in a trilogy of religious films by Scorsese digging deep into the philosophy theology and meaning of religion in individuals lives