Clavell, James (1975) ‘Shogun’, UK signed and beautifully inscribed first edition, association copy housed in custom made designer box

James Clavell (1975) ‘Shogun‘, UK first edition, first printing, published by Hodder and Stoughton. Signed and inscribed by Clavell to the actor Leon Lissek on the first and second half title pages: “This is to “Us” – | part of my family – the best | part among many best parts. | (They, Heather & Leon, are | exceptionals – oh very | yes! From ME with KOI [ meaning with love or affection in Japanese] James | Mallorca, Nov 13^th – 75″ On the second half-title another inscription: “Stolen from the LISSEK LIBRARY | HON [Clavell probably means the Japanese kanji Hon for book] is the key to SHOGUN [Shogun in Japanese kanji]”

A great inscription in the year of publication to Australian-born British actor Leon Lissek (1939 – 2022) who played Father Sebastio in the famous 1980 TV-mini series adaptation of this very novel. Lissek would also play Christian Toxe in another Clavell adaptation of Noble House (1988). A wonderful association copy with an amazing inscription.

The book is housed in a full white leather custom made solander box which shows the silhouette  of a samurai in front of the red rising sun as found in Japanese flags. The spine of the solander shows the title. Line in black velvet to protect the book perfectly.

Condition: the book is very good with usual light wear to the boards. The page block shows some ageing (toning) to the paper stock as well as foxing which has not penetrated the internal pages as they remain clean. The dust jacket is NOT price clipped and in nice condition.

This is a very scarce signed first edition association copy of perhaps Clavell’s best novel published in 1975. During WW II Clavell was a POW of the Japanese. Instead of resigning to his fate he treated the time of captivity as his university where he learned many skills including the art of survival which he later turned into his debut novel King Rat (1962), and ignited his interest in Asia and its vast culture including the culture of the Japanese, his tormentors. Shogun, Clavell’s third novel, is the the first chronologically in the Asian Saga. Clavell skillfully blends historical fact with fiction and creates a suspensful pageturner with all ingredients the reader could wish for: action, a love story, suspense, and a history lesson blended in the most entertaining way. He also brings the Japanese culture closer to the Western mind – a masterful achievement. In 1980 Shogun was made into a five-part television mini-series that starred Richard Chamberlain and Toshiro Mifune and was seen by over 120 million viewers; at the time the largest audience for a mini-series since Roots according to New York Times. The story has recently been adapted for a second time as a ten-episode mini-series for the American pay-TV network FX. James Clavell is also remembered in Hollywood as a screenplay writer of his own work and others, e.g. The Fly (1958); The Great Escape (1963).