The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet

By: David Mitchell

Narrated by: Jonathan Aris, Paula Wilcox

Length: 18 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

A Booker finalist and Mail on Sunday/John Llewellyn Rhys Prize winner, David Mitchell was called “prodigiously daring and imaginative” by Time and “a genius” by the New York Times Book Review.

The year is 1799, the place Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor, the “high-walled, fan-shaped artificial island” that is the Japanese Empire’s single port and sole window onto the world, designed to keep the West at bay; the farthest outpost of the war-ravaged Dutch East Indies Company; and a de facto prison for the dozen foreigners permitted to live and work there. To this place of devious merchants, deceitful interpreters, costly courtesans, earthquakes, and typhoons comes Jacob de Zoet, a devout and resourceful young clerk who has five years in the East to earn a fortune of sufficient size to win the hand of his wealthy fiancée back in Holland.

But Jacob’s original intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with Orito Aibagawa, the disfigured daughter of a samurai doctor and midwife to the city’s powerful magistrate. The borders between propriety, profit, and pleasure blur, until Jacob finds his vision clouded, one rash promise made and then fatefully broken. The consequences will extend beyond Jacob’s worst imaginings. As one cynical colleague asks, “Who ain’t a gambler in the glorious Orient, with his very life?”

©2010 David Mitchell (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"It’s as difficult to put this novel down as it is to overestimate Mitchell’s virtually unparalleled mastery of dramatic construction, illuminating characterizations and insight into historical conflict and change. Comparisons to Tolstoy are inevitable, and right on the money." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Despite the audacious scope, the focus remains intimate; each fascinating character has the opportunity to share his or her story. Everything is patched together seamlessly and interwoven with clever wordplay and enlightening historical details on feudal Japan. First-rate literary fiction and a rousing good yarn, too." ( Booklist)

“An achingly romantic story of forbidden love . . . [David] Mitchell’s incredible prose is on stunning display. . . . A novel of ideas, of longing, of good and evil and those who fall somewhere in between [that] confirms Mitchell as one of the more fascinating and fearless writers alive.” (Dave Eggers, The New York Times Book Review)

A NEAR Perfect Novel.

Mitchell's got the precision of Roth, the bigness of Tolstoy, the ventriloquism of Pynchon and the heart of ... Hugo perhaps. IT is rare for me to find a book that hits me as hard as this one did. A near perfect novel.

Superb historical fiction

Booker Prize nominees rarely disappoint and this is no exception ... deeply engaging characters and plot immersed in a fascinating historical setting -- very reminiscent of the Aubrey-Maturin novels. Excellent narration.

Compelling intricate story

It is a story that immediately demand your attention. Its setting is very well described and the characters develop nice and evenly and give more depth to the environment the book is placed in. At times it can be hard to keep some of the characters apart, but that doesn't seem to harm the flow of it. Even though the story mainly takes place on a tiny island, it opens up a whole world of intrigues. This book has it all, romance, adventure, science, murder etc etc. Its a shame that the narrators are unable to pronounce the Dutch names better.

Didn't want it to end

Wonderful story and beautifully narrated. I was transported into a different land - and resented having to lever myself back into the "real" world when I had to turn it off. The character's different voices, accents, and names were quite clear. Not sure how they did that!

extraordinary

a totally satisfying historical fiction plot played out in prose that recalls Rabelais and DylanThomas. Terrific.

A book made for Audible

This is a book made for Audible.

Each of the voices--high-born Dutch, stiff-necked Prussian, and Japanese translators--first, second, third class, samurai and lords are carefully calibrated and delivered with respect. The performances are vibrant and compassionate, and avoid the caricature of Yellow-Face.

It is the story of the Dutch trading enclave of Dejima in the port of Nagasaki in the late 1790s. The Dutch have exclusive rights to Japanese trade, and both sides thrive in a swamp of corruption and suspicion, and Jacob de Zoet, an accountant brought to dredge the corruption, is one of the few honest men.

Mitchell applies thin coats of lacquer to the Dutch and Japanese relationship, strengthening it through language, friendship, love and tragedy until it is unbreakable. The story is told in a triptych. (I borrow this insight from Michiko Kakutani in The New York Times, June 28, 2010.)

The second panel is gothic, set in an impregnable mountain convent surrounded by lusty vicious monks. The conclusion is foreshadowed with a sable brush. I would like to say more, but I do not want to rob you of the experience.

The third panel is maritime brinksmanship, where the British Empire comes to Dejima, is the most conventional, propelled by a British Captain obsessed with legacy as redemption, to erase personal losses as is his opposite, Jacob de Zoet.

The end closes the way it began, an accounting of credits and losses by Jacob de Zoet, an honest man.

Amazing book!

Would you listen to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet again? Why?

I'd probably read it. The author is a master, and I'd like to savor his writing. That said, I really enjoyed the audiobook, too.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet?

The escape of Jacob's love, as well as the botched rescue of her.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox – was your favorite?

They were all wonderful.

Who was the most memorable character of The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet and why?

Jacob de Zoet, of course. He's the one we got to know and follow.

Many Characters with Difficult Names

What made the experience of listening to The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet the most enjoyable?

I did not want the book to end. I wanted to hear more adventures about other characters.

Any additional comments?

With a global cast of characters it is very hard for the listener to keep track of everyone. I re-listened to the first 6 chapters before proceeding to chapter 7. Well worth the effort.

Can't Recommend

As a fan of Cloud Atlas, I wanted to love this book. I can only sum it up to other CA fans as saying that this is a whole lot more Ewing than Frobisher, without a hint of Cavendish.

The audio experience is better than the book!

Where does The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is BY FAR the best audiobook I have ever heard. Jonathan Aris has done an absolutely masterful job keeping the many male characters apart from each other and making the story come to live. I would listen to him reading the phone book, I am sure he could pull it off.I originally chose this book for my book club and had great trouble reading it. I started twice and gave up after 30 or so pages each time. I just could not get into it, the many characters introduced right at the beginning just kept throwing me off and I lost interest. However, since I suggested the book and was therefore responsible for hosting it (which obviously implies READING it at the very minimum), I finally decided to get the audio version and it turned out the best decision for me. Not only did I "get it" this time around, I also very thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was a somewhat daunting 18 plus hour time commitment but completely worth it. I would wholeheartedly say that the audio version is my Book of The Year 2012!

What did you like best about this story?

Getting an idea about the Japan and Dutch business/trade relations from the late 18th/early 19th century. Nice history lesson even if it's fictionalized.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox – was your favorite?

Main character, Jakob de Zoet. But there were a few others who repeatedly sent out some fun zingers.

If you could rename The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, what would you call it?

I do not get the title - must have missed something - but have nothing better to offer.

Any additional comments?

Some parts of the story were completely unbelievable given the time background. In a society as restricted as Japan (and the rest of the world) was at the time, having a feminist-leaning female protagonist with her very own (modern) ideas about gynecology floating through the story seems absurd. However, the love story was tender and Jakob's failings completely believable.Loads of humor in the story too coming from the various side characters.I would wholeheartedly say that the audio version is my Book of The Year 2012!