Launched The Courtesan and the Samurai on March 25th and now hoping for a keen wind to fill her sails! The launch took place at Daunts bookshop on Marylebone High Street, in London, and there was a good-sized gathering of friends, colleagues, my publisher and my agent, as well as Colin the master swordsman, who came down from Durham. I made a speech, Colin gave a demonstration, and we all retired to an Italian restaurant for dinner.
Please click on thumbnails below to scroll through the gallery:
Lesley with Kuniko Tamae 
Colin the Swordsman 
I gave a speech 
My brother, sister-in-law, sister, sister’s boyfriend and my two nephews were there 
Friends turned out in force 
Colin’s sword demonstration 
Old friends 
Me with Colin 
…and we all went out to dinner afterwards
The Courtesan and the Samurai – Tour dates 2010
Wednesday April 21st
6.30 pm
Japan Society
Crane and Tortoise (room to rear of main bar), 39 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8PR
tel 0207 828 6330
Illustrated talk: Fighting for the shogun: the story of a ship, some samurai, nine French officers and the battle for Hokkaido.
£7.50 including a light Japanese buffet following the lecture
see: The Japan Society website
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Wednesday May 18th
Royal Overseas League, Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR
tel 0207 408 0214
Illustrated talk: The Yoshiwara and the world of Japanese courtesans
Details to follow