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)

Terrific historical novel

I greatly enjoyed this novel that brings to life an interesting era I would never have known about otherwise. The characters, language, and cultural norms are so well presented they seem authentic. Some key turning points however are not fully explained. Also the ending, while satisfying to learn of the full life of the key character, does seem a bit rushed. Certain things were very well written and sometimes heart stopping. The Japanese culture is very interesting but I wonder how authentic it is and will look for reviews from that culture.

The audio version was very good however I was puzzled that when the Japanese are seeking to Europeans the voices are done with a Japanese accent. However when Japanese are speaking amongst themselves there is no Japanese accent.

Good But Uneven

I enjoyed this book, but I found it to be uneven. The author tells the story episodically, focusing in turn on several characters. The first part off the book focuses on the Dutchmen Jacob and the trading factory at Nagasaki. I found the characters and plot very engaging. Then he shifts gears to focus for the most part on the Japanese characters in another subplot. There is a necessary change of pace when going from a bustling seaport to a monastery, but I found that the book became significantly less engaging through about the middle third of the recording. Like everything was at one remove. The artistic intent was there, but at times it felt contrived & too slow. The plot elements and characters are in place, but the author didn't draw me in the way he had earlier in the novel. Then in the last third of the novel, the vigor came back.

There were a couple of places in the recording where there were silent gaps of up to a minute that made me wonder if parts of the book were unintentionally omitted in the recording and editing process. There is a much anticipated taiphoon that is not described. Audible should review these recordings from start to finish before they are posted for download.

enjoyable well-written

This is not a "page-turner" but is a well paced, well written novel. The narration is somewhat confusing at times with miss-placed accents but one gets used to it.

a wonder, and wonderful, from beginning to end

if mitchell, in the sphere of fine writers, borders on genius, so the two narrators, in their own sphere, border on the same.

Lovely

Honestly, I almost gave up on this book because, in my opinion, the first half was just not all that interesting. That said, I am happy that I stuck with it because the book grows exponentially in complexity. The ending of this book was not predictable, not sappy ... don't really know how to explain it except: perfect.

An historical novel based in 1790's Japan

This book was recommended by one of the people I follow. I had never read a David Mitchell book before but I do try to read winners of the Booker Prize, which this book won. The story takes place in the 1790s Nagasaki Japan. Jacob De Zoet was a clerk at the Dutch East Indies Company. Japan allowed only the DEI company trading access to Japan. There was a variety of characters from Dutch, Malay, to Japanese. Mitchell painted a picture rich with detail, intriguing characters and oriental mystery, there was depth, humor and subtlety. I felt the middle of the book slowed down and the ending was rushed other wise it was it was paced fairly well. The narrators Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox did a good job. This is a historical novel and the research of the time and place was well done and expertly wove into an interesting story.

A new favorite

This was one of the best books I listened to or read in 2011. It was unique, pretty fast moving, had unusual and interesting characters, and did an excellent job of drawing the reader into it's world. It is a long book, but I didn't want it to end. I look forward to listening to more David Mitchell books.

A Very Large Story, Well Worth Your Time

This is a big book. It is not just long, but its story contains big ideas and a lot of history. The author, David Mitchell, has done a wonderful job of superimposing the human scale of characters and their stories onto the very large backdrop of Japan and her relationship with the West at the beginning of the 19th century. The narrators both did superb jobs, particularly Jonathan Aris with his grasp of Dutch pronunciation. They cleverly used accents based on the character and the situation, e.g., a Japanese interpreter speaks to a Dutch clerk with a distinct Japanese accent; two Japanese, one educated and one not, speak with British accents that make their social stations clear.

I am a big fan of neat endings and proper comeuppances, and the book's ending left me with mixed feelings. It is a story I will continue to think about for a long time.

Wonderful historical novel

What about Jonathan Aris and Paula Wilcox ’s performance did you like?

They did a good job of creating recognizably different voices, which fit the text well.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed learning about Japan's early contacts with the west (Holland), in the context of a novel about adventure, some mystic elements, and a love story.

Sublime

One of my favorite books of all time, and a wonderful performance by the readers.