Musashi: Book Two - Wind & Ether - The Novel: New Unabridged Translation - Paperback

by Eiji Yoshikawa (Author), Alexander Bennett (Translator)

Musashi's tale continues as he transforms himself from an inexperienced soldier with no direction into Japan's greatest swordsman!

This is the second book of Musashi: The Novel, a sweeping three-book unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling masterpiece--Japan's most beloved historical novel. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity.

In Book Two Musashi continues his travels across Japan, earning a name for himself as a fearless swordsman. One by one, he dispatches the most skilled fighters in Japan with minimal effort, and it all seems too easy. But stung by their defeat at his hands, the Yoshioka fighters vow revenge, and their leader, Seijuro, seeks out Musashi for a duel to the death. Wrestling with his demons, Musashi is torn by his love for Otsu and his goal of becoming Japan's most famous warrior. He decides to take on a young student, but in doing so, is he losing his focus? Musashi holds his destiny in his hands, yet difficult choices will have to be made.

Author Biography

Eiji Yoshikawa (1892-1962) is Japan's bestselling novelist of all time. He published popular retellings of many Asian classics, however, his novelization of the life of Miyamoto Musashi is his most famous work, selling over 120 million copies. He was awarded the Cultural Order of Merit and the Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Alexander Bennett is a Professor of Japanese History, Martial Arts, and Budo Theory at Kansai University. He is a Director General of the International Budo University's Budo Sports Research Institute. He co-founded and publishes Kendo World, the first English-language Kendo journal, and holds black belts in several other martial arts. His published works include The Complete Musash and Hagakure: The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai.