Across the Nightingale Floor

Across the Nightingale Floor

Here is one of the extraordinary finds of the year, by a spellbinding young writer in Australia who can be compared to the master storytellers. Across the Nightingale Floor creates a believable world out of history and fantasy and uses it as the setting for a story so satisfying that you'll find yourself hoping it will go on forever. In ancient Japan, in the time of myth and legend, live a peace-loving mountain people who practice an ancient, outlawed religion. To the outside world, they are known simply as "the Hidden." One fateful evening the forces of tyrannical Lord Sadamu—who has vowed to destory the Hidden—sweep through the town, leaving an awful wake of burnt homes and dead villagers. There is only one survivor: a fifteen-year-old boy named Takeo, who is rescued at the last moment by the noble Lord Otori. With all that he has ever known destroyed, Takeo vows to extract revenge on the evil Lord Sadamu. Though, outwardly, little more than a peasant boy, Takeo discovers great, untapped reservoirs of power. He is gifted with extraordinary powers of hearing and on occasion has the ability to be in two places at one time. But Takeo lacks training in the arts of combat and court intrigue, and he can't always tell who his true friends are. And nothing has prepared him for the experience of being hopelessly in love with Princess Kaede, who is betrothed to another. Beautifully structured and alive with the rich detail of a Japan lost in the mists of time, Across the Nightingale Floor is entertaining and powerfully moving, a memorable reading experience.

Hardcover: 304 pages

Publisher: Book Of The Month Club ( September 01, 2002 )

Item #: 54-6649

ISBN: 1-57322-225-9

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.76 inches

Product Weight: 15.0 ounces