Book description
The second book in the Tales of the Otori trilogy continues the epic
story of Otori Takeo and Shirakawa Kaede, the young lovers whose fate is
played out in an ancient Oriental world, where ritualised codes of high
honour counter the cruelty of savage blood-feuds. Takeo has pledged his
life to the Tribe, a secret clan of spies and assassins who claim his
legendary supernatural skills for their own ruthless purposes, in doing
so he must deny his birthright as an Otori lord - and his love for
Kaede. If he does not serve them, the Tribe will kill him. Kaede,
separated from Takeo, must use her intelligence, beauty and cunning to
assert her place in a world of all-powerful men - who must never know
that she is carrying Takeo's child. In growing from boy to man, Takeo
must make a choice - and the dangerous path he undertakes is a journey
of high adventure, treachery and passion that establishes this
extraordinary trilogy as one of the most brilliant and enduring works of
modern fiction. GRASS FOR HIS PILLOW, the sequel to ACROSS THE
NIGHTINGALE FLOOR, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, is one of the
most eagerly-awaited novels of 2003. Lian Hearn has created a
brilliantly imagined culture. Here is epic storytelling whose appeal
crosses genres, genders and generations.
Lian Hearn studied modern languages at Oxford University and worked
as a film critic and arts editor in London before settling in
Australia. A lifelong interest in Japan led to the study of the
Japanese language, many trips to Japan and culminated in the writing
of the TALES OF THE OTORI trilogy.
