The geisha who seduced the west and the last concubine. The book is the definitive work on geisha, told through stories of historical geisha and the many geisha that she befriended. The first half of the book looks at the history of the geisha. The shogun quartet, book 3, book 3 ebook written by lesley downer.
A taste of japan by downer, lesley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The remarkable truth behind the fiction lesley downer. But it was japan, not china, that proved the more alluring, and she lived there for some fifteen years. Geisha lesley downer fiction books gumtree australia. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. She now lives in london with regular forays to tokyo. See all books authored by lesley downer, including women of the pleasure quarters. The shoguns queen is both gripping and historically accurate. Geisha the remarkable truth behind the fiction by lesley downer. This fascination has spawned a wealth of extraordinary fictional creations, from puccinis madama butterfly to arthur goldens memoirs of a geisha.
The reality of the geisha s existence has rarely been described. Praise for lesley downer lesley downer has taken the essential truth of geisha culture its mystery and peeled it away layer after layer like an onion. The critically acclaimed author of on the narrow and women of the pleasure quarters tells the enthralling true story of the woman who became the most celebrated geisha in japan and the first to tour the united states and europe. Selling all my books 1 book for 6 3 books for 15 5 books for 20 10 books for 30 postage available pm for price, 1247683106. Here she reflects on their inspiration and her experiences writing them. Books by lesley downer author of the last concubine goodreads. Cultures collide when okichi, a beautiful geisha, is sent to wo. I have a fab guest post from lesley about being a woman in japan and living amongst geisha but first of all im sure youd like to know what the shoguns queen is all about. Sep 11, 2016 downers quest to understand this tradition takes her from the bright and breezy girls of the atami resort, where the line sometimes blurs between the two meanings of courtesan, to the deeply traditional geisha district of kyoto, where being a geisha is a complete way of life. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The remarkable truth behind the fiction, she weaves together intimate portraits of modern geisha with the romantic legends and. Everything you ever wanted do to know about geisha their origins, history, why young women still want to become geisha and stories of contemporary geisha. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a geisha for the american consul a short story. Lesley downer s seven books range widely in genre and subject.
From san francisco to new york, paris, and berlin, audiences thrilled to her mesmeric acting and exquisite dancing. You can buy her books on the narrow road to the deep north, the shoguns queen, the last concubine, the courtesan and the samurai, geisha and madame sadayakko on amazon worldwide and many other fine retailers. The secret history of the geisha by lesley downer in chm, rtf, txt download e book. The first half of the book looks at the history of the geisha, women brought up from a disturbingly early age to entertain men in dedicated houses in certain areas of japanese cities. Dec 06, 2012 a geisha for the american consul a short story ebook written by lesley downer. Biography of the author and journalist lesley downer. Books about geishas what should i read next register for free to build your own book lists. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading geisha.
This book is as interesting and entertaining as arthur goldens novel, memoirs of a geisha. I recommend this book for anybody who wants to know the history of the geisha. Lesley downer has 21 books on goodreads with 18309 ratings. A critically acclaimed author tells the enthralling true story of the real madame butterfly, a woman who became the most celebrated geisha in. Lesley downer s romantic novel of 19thcentury japan is a brilliant blend of fact and fiction. Lesley downer s mother was chinese and her father a professor of chinese, so she grew up in a house full of books on asia. Spotlight on historical fiction author lesley downer jennifer s. Read a geisha for the american consul a short story by lesley downer available from rakuten kobo.
A geisha for the american consul a short story by lesley. Inside the secret world of the geisha with novelist lesley downer. The geisha who bewitched the west by lesley downer and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lesley downer has 22 books on goodreads with 18438 ratings. Everything you ever wanted do to know about geisha their origins, history, why young women still want to become geisha and stories of contemporary geisha who became my friends. My great passion is japan but recently ive been spreading my wings a bit. Lesley downer lived among the geisha for many years and got to know many of them personally. She first went in 1978 and lived there off and on for more than fifteen years. This book is a record of downer s journey, as much as a study of geisha themselves, and this personal angle makes it all the more rewarding. E una contraddizione vivente nel giappone high tech. This book is as interesting and entertaining as arthur goldens novel, memoirs of a geisha, and in addition, it is also a history of japans moral code, past and present. A geisha for the american consul a short story ebook written by lesley downer. Ever since westerners arrived in japan, we have been intrigued by geisha.
My mother was chinese and my father a professor of chinese, so i grew up in a house full of books on asia. See all 11 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. In women of the pleasure quarters, she weaves together intimate portraits of modern geisha with the romantic legends and colorful historical tales that. The victorians meet the geisha by lesley downer playing the shamisen by felice beato 1860s in 1867 a 24 year old englishman called ernest satow was travelling around japan. The secret history of the geisha, and the last concubine, and more on. Lesley downer does provide citations to support her theories on some of the events in sadayakkos life but i felt like i was reading more from a fans perspective than from an objective source.
Lesley downer is a novelist and writer whose great passion is japan. The secret history of the geisha ebook written by lesley downer. Geisha by lesley downer book cover, description, publication history. The secret history of the geisha paperback april 9, 2002 by lesley downer author visit amazons lesley downer page.
The secret history of a vanishing world, madame sadayakko. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read women of the pleasure quarters. Buy geisha first paperback edition by lesley downer isbn. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the courtesan and the samurai. I highly recommend her engaging and enlightening examination of this littleknown world arthur golden, author of memoirs of a geisha.
The author and presenter lived in japan for five years and spent six months in the geisha community of miyagawacho in kyoto. Lesley downer is the author of many books on japan, including geisha. Here is the place to find out about my latest writing, journalism and research. Published april 9th 2002 by broadway books first published 2000. The secret history of a vanishing world, and on the narrow road to the deep north. Lesley downers book on geisha is, quite honestly, one of the best out there. You can connect with lesley downer via her website, twitter, and facebook. While having a somewhat subjective tone in a nonfiction is madame sadayakko by lesley downer is about a geisha who turned actress in the early 1900s.
The secret history of the geisha by downer, lesley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Lesley downers romantic novel of 19thcentury japan is a brilliant blend of fact and fiction. One of my most memorable trips was to kagoshima in the deep south of japan, where i soaked in a hot spring on a live volcano. Lesley downer lived in japan for more than ten years and speaks fluent japanese.
The world of the geisha, demystified by an author who has spent many years living and working in japan. As we follow downer through the alleys of kyoto, we also learn more about the history of the geisha. The book is the definitive work on geisha, told through stories of historical geisha and. In terms of the historical period, you should read the last concubine first, then the courtesan and the samurai and lastly themore. A critically acclaimed author tells the enthralling true story of the real madame butterfly, a woman who became the most celebrated geisha in japan and the first to. Contrary to popular opinion, geisha are not prostitutes but literally arts people. From critically acclaimed author and japanese scholar lesley downer, an enchanting portrait of the mysterious world of the geisha. Lesley downers seven books range widely in genre and subject. Up to 20 books are listed, in descending order of popularity. Lesley downer, an awardwinning writer, japanese scholar, and consummate storyteller, gained more access to this world than almost any other westerner, and spent several months living in it. Jul 01, 2012 lesley downers seven books range widely in genre and subject. But it was japan, not china, that proved the more alluring. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders.
This fascination has spawned a wealth of fictional creations from madame butterfly to arthur goldens memoirs of a geisha. During the period of geishamania that followed the publication of arthur goldens memoirs of a geisha in 1997, downer. Shortlisted for romantic novel of the year 2009, translated into 30 languages. Lesley downers mother was chinese and her father a professor of chinese, so she grew up in a house full of books on asia. Dec 01, 2016 lesley downer is the author of many books on japan, including geisha. A geisha for the american consul a short story ebook by. New nonfiction e books by the author lesley downer madame sadayakko. Their accomplishments might include singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument but, above all, they are masters of the art of conversation, soothing worries of highly paid businessmen who can. The hidden world of japans richest family, chosen as a new york times notable book. The geisha who bewitched the west lesley downer, author. Im so pleased to be part of the blog tour for the shoguns queen by lesley downer. Ever since westerners arrived in japan, they have been intrigued by japanese womanhood and, above all, by geisha. Ive been a writer, journalist and broadcaster for most of my career.
Jan 08, 2002 from critically acclaimed author and japanese scholar lesley downer, an enchanting portrait of the mysterious world of the geisha. Books by lesley downer author of the last concubine. Lesley downer combined her experience as a researcher and a historian and crafted a wellwritten story on the life of geisha in contemporary japan. Spotlight on historical fiction author lesley downer. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
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