Musashi: Book Two - Wind & Ether - The Novel

The story begins in the year 1600 at the epic Battle of Sekigahara, where Musashi lies wounded on the battlefield, having fought on the wrong side. He escapes in a daze, without a home or direction, and is desperate to make a name for himself as a warrior. He becomes a vagabond, wandering the countryside aimlessly, taking on all comers as a dueling Ronin--a swordfighter without master or purpose.

After slaying the three best fighters of the powerful Yoshioka Clan in the capital and defeating the great Sasaki Kojiro with just a wooden pole, Musashi emerges as the most formidable swordsman in the land. He dispatches even the most skilled fighters with minimal effort. It all seems too easy--and ultimately, he finds little satisfaction in it.

After fighting 62 duels without a defeat, Musashi suddenly disappears from the scene and retreats to a cave to meditate. In seclusion, he realizes that the pursuit of glory is meaningless and the only path to prosperity can be found through a life of self-reliance and discipline. After his return, Musashi embarks on a new mission--to teach aspiring Samurai the meaning of their existence as warriors and to expound his new philosophy that they all must follow in life, as in battle. The result is his monumental treatise, The Book of Five Rings--one of the most widely read books in history.

Musashi is the first unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's great novel, the top-selling work of fiction in Japan. Masterfully translated by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who in the end finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity.