The definitive history of the ninja, based on a wealth of historical texts, local Japanese sources, and John Man''s own treks across Asia
âAn immensely entertaining history, packed with splendidly blood-thirsty tales of derring-do, feats of endurance and self-sacrifice.â â"The Guardian
Out of the violent chaos of medieval Japan, a remarkable band of peasants rose to become the world''s most feared warriorsâ"trained to perfect the art of ninjutsu, the deadly union of martial arts and deception. Today, however, these real life ninjas are overshadowed by legend and pop culture caricatures. Could they fly? Climb walls? Make themselves invisible?
Drawing on a wealth of historical texts, local Japanese sources, and his own comprehensive treks across Asia, acclaimed author John Man takes us back to the ninjas'' origins in China, through to their heyday in the bloody civil wars that ended with the unification of Japan in 1600. Man also illuminates the twentieth-century reemergence of the Japanese tradition of shadow warfare through the Nakano Spy Schoolâ"the elite military-intelligence academy that operated as an extensive spy network during World War IIâ"and reveals one former Nakano soldier, Onoda Hiroo, who may be the last surviving ninja.
Compelling and absorbing, Ninja reveals at last the fascinating true history behind one of the world''s most enduring legends.
Industry Reviews
"An immensely entertaining history, packed with splendidly blood-thirsty tales of derring-do, feats of endurance and self-sacrifice."--The Guardian ""Ninja" is a racy popular history of a difficult and often mythologised subject and should appeal to the armchair warrior in us all."--Literary Review "An intriguing look at the enigmatic world of the deadly Asian assassin. ... Fascinating. ... A thoroughly researched, appealing examination of the original 'men in black.'"--Kirkus Reviews "As colorful and intriguing as the warriors it so vividly brings to life."--Bookreporter.com An immensely entertaining history, packed with splendidly blood-thirsty tales of derring-do, feats of endurance and self-sacrifice. --The Guardian" "Ninja" is a racy popular history of a difficult and often mythologised subject and should appeal to the armchair warrior in us all. --Literary Review" One could ask for no better storyteller than John Man. --Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of "Jerusalem: The Biography"" An intriguing look at the enigmatic world of the deadly Asian assassin. ... Fascinating. ... A thoroughly researched, appealing examination of the original men in black. --Kirkus Reviews" As colorful and intriguing as the warriors it so vividly brings to life. --Bookreporter.com" -An intriguing look at the enigmatic world of the deadly Asian assassin. ... Fascinating. ... A thoroughly researched, appealing examination of the original 'men in black.'---Kirkus Reviews -As colorful and intriguing as the warriors it so vividly brings to life.---Bookreporter.com -One could ask for no better storyteller than John Man.---Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem: The Biography -Ninja is a racy popular history of a difficult and often mythologised subject and should appeal to the armchair warrior in us all.---Literary Review -An immensely entertaining history, packed with splendidly blood-thirsty tales of derring-do, feats of endurance and self-sacrifice.---The Guardian "One could ask for no better storyteller than John Man."--Simon Sebag Montefiore, author of Jerusalem: The Biography "Ninja is a racy popular history of a difficult and often mythologised subject and should appeal to the armchair warrior in us all."--Literary Review "An immensely entertaining history, packed with splendidly blood-thirsty tales of derring-do, feats of endurance and self-sacrifice."--The Guardian
