Silence

Silence

By Shūsaku Endō

Pages

304

Rating

3.33

Year

1966

ReligionPhilosophyHistorical FictionClassicsLiterary FictionJapanese Literature

Description

Jesuit priest Sebastian Rodrigues sets sail for Japan in 1640, full of idealistic fire. But the cold land he arrives in has no place for missionaries: the Tokugawa shogunate has banned Christianity, and believers face torture and execution. Living in hiding, leading worship in secret, Rodrigues begins to question the true meaning of compassion — and the limits of his own belief.

This stunning work of historical fiction is one of literature’s deepest explorations of doubt, fellowship, and enduring faith.

Endorsements

Introduced by Martin Scorsese — who adapted it into a film.