The Life and Letters of Sakamoto Ryoma by Alexandre Pappas

In The Life and Letters of Sakamoto Ryōma, author Alexandre Pappas delves into the life of one of Japan's most revered and enigmatic figures. Born into a low-ranking samurai family in the Tosa domain, Sakamoto Ryōma rose to prominence during the Bakumatsu, a tumultuous period in his nation’s history that saw the end of the samurai era. With unparalleled vision and unwavering courage, Ryōma played a crucial role in dismantling the Tokugawa shogunate helping to catapult the nation from centuries of feudal isolation to becoming a modern, industrialized world power. This meticulously researched biography chronicles Ryōma's journey from his early years of swordsmanship training in Edo to his bold political maneuvers that united feuding domains under the banner of Imperial restoration.

Through engaging prose and rich historical detail including over thirty letters and missives written by Ryōma himself, The Life and Letters of Sakamoto Ryōma offers readers an intimate look at nineteenth century Japanese politics and the life of a samurai whose revolutionary ideas and actions forever changed the course of Japanese history.