A lifelong interest in japan led to the study of the japanese language, many trips to japan and culminated in the writing of across the nightingale floor. Jun 28, 2018 across the nightingale floor blew me away with how well it captured the essence of japan, and its knowledge concerning the japanese psyche. I knew going into across the nightingale floor that this was not exactly what i typically read. It is an actionfantasy story set on a set of islands which closely resemble feudal japan. Set in a fictional version of feudal japan, the tales of the otori series tells the story of a pair of japanese teenagers who become ensnared in a secret war between between two powerful warrior clans, the otori and the tohan. Set in the years before the beginning of across the nightingale floor, heavens net is wide by lian hearn is the first and last tale, which both closes the circle and introduces new listeners to the fantastical, beautiful and thrilling world of the otori. It started as a trilogy across the nightingale floor, grass for his pillow and brilliance of the moon but i realised i had more to say about the characters and have written one book heavens net is wide that ends where across the nightingale floor begins. Across the nightingale floor an international bestseller, across the nightingale floor is the first book in the tales of the otori series by lian hearn. Across the nightingale floor is a 2002 historical fantasy novel by english author, gillian rubinstein, writing under the pen name lian hearn. A stunning prequel to the tales of the otori series that began with across the nightingale floor, the mystical world of an ancient, feudal japan, which does for medieval japan what game of thrones does for medieval europe. The stunningly powerful bestseller, across the nightingale floor, is an epic story for readers young and old. Tales of the otori 5 pack across the nightingale floor. Across the nightingale floor is such a worka magical creation of a world beyond time.
All five books in the tales of the otori seriesacross the nightingale floor, grass for his pillow, brilliance of the moon, the harsh cry of the heron, and heavens net is wideare available now from riverhead books. Tomasu, a member of the hidden by birth, returns from exploring the mountains to find members of his family slaughtered. This book is part of the tales of the otori series. Across the nightingale floor study guide contains a biography of lian hearn, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a. Across the nightingale floor study guide contains a biography of lian hearn, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Overview an international bestseller, across the nightingale floor is the first book in the tales of the otori series by lian hearn. For one, it is historical, and japanese, and i dont typically touch either in fiction. Under the tutelage of shigeru, he learns that he too possesses the skills of the tribe. Tales of the otori is a series of historical fantasy novels by lian hearn. Across the nightingale floor, tales of the otori book 1 brings the reader into a truly unique fantasy world, entering the feudal world of the otori. Free download across the nightingale floor pdf book by lian. Our own medieval feudal system was a relatively simple affair. Download across the nightingale floor pdf epub ebook. There are so many things about this series that i typically dont do.
Lian hearns stunningly powerful best seller, across the nightingale floor, is an epic story for young and old. All five books in the tales of the otori series across the nightingale floor, grass for his pillow, brilliance of the moon, the harsh cry of the heron, and heavens net is wideare available now from riverhead books. I was in akiyoshidai international arts village in yamaguchi prefecture. The novel follows the protagonist, a young warrior named tomasu who later becomes takeo. Lian has made many trips to japan and has studied japanese.
Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. Across the nightingale floor tales of the otori, book 1. Every now and then a novel appears, completely unlike anything that has appeared before. Across the nightingale floor by gillian rubinstein librarything. Tales of the otori is a series of historical fantasy novels by gillian rubinstein, writing under the pen name lian hearn, set in a fictional world based on feudal japan. In his blackwalled fortress at inuyama, the murd shelve tales of the otori 5 pack across the nightingale floor.
Across the nightingale floor book the seattle public. I rashly bought all 5 books in the series and now im doubting the wisdom of that. Jan 12, 2017 lian hearns stunningly powerful bestseller, across the nightingale floor, is an epic story for readers young and old. It is an epic story of betrayal, revenge, magic and love. Each stratum of society owed allegiance to the one above it. Normally a bad book is just that, but this book is actually infuriatingly bad. Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn fictiondb. Enter the feudal world of the otori filled with magic, treachery and intrigue inspired by medieval japan and created by acclaimed australian author, lian hearn.
Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn waterstones. Her recent novel, blossoms and shadows, about life in japan in the 1850s, also sold widely around the world. Lian hearns stunningly powerful bestseller, across the nightingale floor, is an epic story for readers young and old. Across the nightingale floor is a historical fantasy novel and the first book in the tales of otori series. It draws inspiration from japanese literary classics, such as the tale of the heike and the pillow book. The book was published in multiple languages including english language, consists of 305 pages and is available in paperback format. Across the nightingale floor is the first of lian hearns tales of the otori trilogy, first published. Apr 02, 2004 lian hearn studied modern languages at oxford university and worked as an arts editor in london before settling in australia. Praised for its epic scope and descriptive detail, across the nightingale floor, the first book in the tales of the otori series, was an international bestseller and critical success, named by the. The tales of the otori is a fivebook series, beginning with across the nightingale floor. Across the nightingale floor is a lyrical and bittersweet tale set in a fantasymedieval, feudal japan. The first edition of this novel was published in january 1st 2002, and was written by lian hearn.
All five books in the tales of the otori seriesacross the nightingale floor, grass for his pillow, brilliance of the moon, the harsh cry of the heron, and heavens. The novel explores themes such as family legacies, family pressure and revenge. The main characters of this fantasy, fiction story are otori takeo, lord iida. Jan mark is intrigued by across the nightingale floor, an exotic tale of love, violence, loyalty and betrayal set in a complicated feudal system. Across the nightingale floor 2002, grass for his pillow 2003, and brilliance of the moon 2004. A work of transcendent storytelling with an appeal that crosses genres, genders, and generations, across the nightingale floor is a rich and brilliantly constructed tale, mythic in its themes and epic in its vision. Book on in the tales of the otori series in his fortress at inuyama, the murderous warlord iida sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor. In his blackwalled fortress at inuyama, the warlord iida sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor.
Tales of the otori audiobooks listen to the full series. Across the nightingale floor by gillian rubinstein. Free download or read online across the nightingale floor pdf epub book. I have read andor listened to all five books in this series and this book across the nightingale floor and heavens net is wide prelude are the best books and the last harsh cry of the heron my least favorite. Atnf introduces the fictional islands based on traditional japan, ruled by warring feudal lords. Across the nightingale floor is the first book in the trilogy know as tales of the otori written by english born australian writer, lian hearn real name gillian rubinstein. And, with this knowledge, he embarks on a journey that will lead him across the famed nightingale floor and to his own unimaginable destiny. Its filled with magic, treachery and intrigue inspired by medieval japan and created by australian author, lian hearn. Dont miss the related series, the tale of shikanoko. Across the nightingale floor audiobook by lian hearn. The complete series list for tales of the otori lian hearn. Tales of the otori series in order lian hearn fictiondb. Iida sadamu is proud of his famous nightingale floor, a famous work that sings at the touch of a human foot. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each.
Ive written five books in the tales of the otori series. Across the nightingale floor is set in a fictional feudal system, and follows the story of a sixteenyearold boy named tomasu and fifteenyearold girl named kaede. An international bestseller, across the nightingale floor is the first book in the tales of the otori series by lian hearn. When takeos village is pillaged, he is rescued and adopted by the mysterious lord otori shigeru. Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn is the first in the tales of the otori series. The first book to the tales of the otori series, across the nightingale floor, propels readers into a fictional yet historic japan, while also incorporating subtle elements of fantasy by mixing japanese folklore with christian beliefs. The tales of the otori 0 book series by lian hearn includes books across the nightingale floor, grass for his pillow, brilliance of the moon, and several more. Across the nightingale floor book to film adaptations. I started writing across the nightingale floor with the four main characters in my head and the opening sentence in takeos voice.
Across the nightingale floor is a story with a medieval asian setting in which a young man is saved from his destroyed village by a noble tragic lord and is taught mad ninja skills to take revenge on the evil lord who destroyed his village and killed his new noble lords brother in a battle years before. Meet the characters across the nightingale floor book one. Free download across the nightingale floor pdf book by. It is poised to become the most captivating novel of the year. This historical fantasy set in an imaginary feudal japan is surprisingly easy to follow considering its many characters and slew of individual plots. Set in a mythical feudal japanese land, a world both beautiful and cruel, the intense love story of two young people takes place against a background of warring clans, secret alliances, high honour and lightning swordplay. Read across the nightingale floor 2002 online free. Jul 15, 2016 the tales of the otori is a fivebook series, beginning with across the nightingale floor.
Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn goodreads. It was followed in 2006 by a sequel, the harsh cry of the heron, and in 2007 by a prequel, heavens net is wide. An international best seller, across the nightingale floor is the first book in the tales of the otori series by lian hearn. The following are the main characters that appear in book one. It is the first installment of the tales of the otori series, which is set in a fictional world based on feudal japan. They have such relationships with each other through the text, that they make the story come to life. Across the nightingale floor 2002, grass for his pillow 2003, brilliance of the moon. Set in a mythical, feudal, japanese land, a world both beautiful and cruel, the intense love story of two young people takes place against a background of warring clans, secret alliances, high honour and lightning swordplay. See the complete tales of the otori 0 series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. The characters in across the nightingale floor each have remarkably distinct faces of personality. Then this was just very light on the fantasy, which i only do rarely. The debut novel of lian hearns tales of the otori series, across the nightingale floor, is set in a feudal japan on the edge of the imagination. Set in an imaginary, ancient japanese society dominated by warring clans, across the nightingale floor is a story of a boy who is suddenly plucked from his life in a remote and peaceful village to find himself a pawn in. Across the nightingale floor the spellbinding first instalment of the internationally bestselling tales of the otori trilogy transports us to a mythical, mediaeval country in a feudal period, in a story of clashing powers, divided loyalties, and passionate love played out on a dazzling landscape.
We have provided the new, used, outofprint, and antiquarian independent bookseller with a full ecommerce bookstore solution since 2001. It is told from the perspective of takeo, a young man in whose veins flow the blood of two profoundly different groups. Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn books the. Across the nightingale floor by lian hearn reading guide. The floor is the perfect defense for the warlord in his fortress at inuyama because no assassin can cross it without being heard.