News

Celebrating publication day (June 7th) and launch day (June 19th) – and have already had a lovely review of Across a Bridge of Dreams in the Independent! Japan’s headlong rush towards modernity frames this tale of star-crossed love. by Victoria James Nearly a thousand years before Romeo met Juliet, Japan boasted its own pair of … Read more

Forthcoming lectures: Monday June 18th 6.45 pm Japan Society Oriental Club, Stratford House, 11 Stratford Place, London WC1 1 ES www.JapanSociety.org.uk Illustrated talk: The New Japan and the Last Samurai free but booking essential *** Monday October 8th 6.30 pm Gateshead Japan Festival Gateshead Central Library, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead NE8 4LN Illustrated talk: Japan: … Read more

Il Giappone e le sue tradizioni: una storia di amore e dedizione Intervistare Lesley Downer, affermata autrice di saggi e romanzi di ambientazione nipponica, contribuisce a sfatare il mito-maledizione secondo cui il più delle volte l’immagine che ci costruiamo di un autore che abbiamo amato va a cozzare inevitabilmente con la realtà, facendoci uscire dall’incontro … Read more

Forthcoming lectures: Sunday July 17th Festival of Living History, Kelmarsh, Northants. 11.40 – 12.40 ‘WHAT WOMEN WORE – AND WHY’ Panel with Hallie Rubenhold and Laura Wilson – and re-enactors in costume! http://www.thehwa.co.uk/content/festivals http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/events/festival-of-history-2011/ Watch this space!

Forthcoming lectures: Monday April 11th 6.15pm Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, Yurakucho Denki North Building 20F Yurakucho 1-7-1, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100-0006, Japan tel +81-3-3211-3161 Illustrated talk: The Yoshiwara and the world of Japanese courtesans Watch this space!

Forthcoming lectures: Tuesday March 8th WORDS BY THE WATER, Keswick, Cumbria Japanese Culture Many people are fascinated with the ancient traditions of Japanese culture: geishas, courtesans, Samurai. These two writers, travellers and experts on this mysterious country, tell of their research and travel. with John Man 5.15pm, Studio, £7.50 tel. 01803 86 73 73 Visit … Read more

Forthcoming lectures: Saturday June 26th 3.00 – 5.00 pm Ipswich Literary Tea, Ipswich Arts Festival, Arlington Brasserie, Ipswich, Suffolk Box Office 01473 433100 £8 (£6 concessions) Law and disorder: Making an impression throughout history. Discussion over tea and cakes with Giles Kristian, author of Sons of Thunder, and Paul Sussman, author of The Hidden Oasis. … Read more

The Last Concubine just came out in Thai. This is the beautiful cover. Big in Thailand!

Friday May 14th 11 am Lincoln Book Festival, Lincoln Drill Hall, Lincoln Festival Box Office tel 01522 873 894 £4 (£2 concessions) History panel: Law and disorder: How to make an impression throughout history. With Giles Kristian, author of Sons of Thunder, and Manda Scott, author of Rome: The Emperor’s Spy *** Tuesday May 18th … Read more

Spoke on Fighting for the shogun: the story of a ship, some samurai, nine French officers and the battle for Hokkaido – at the Japan Society, at a very convivial Japanese pub called The Crane and the Tortoise (suitably auspicious name) on Gray’s Inn Road. My talk was followed by sushi and sake and a … Read more