Lesley Downer is a Japan expert, author, journalist, and historian. She has written four novels, The Shogun Quartet, and several works of nonfiction, including the immersive work of journalism Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha and The Brothers: The Hidden World of Japan’s Richest Family, which was chosen as a New York Times Book of the Year. She has traveled widely and given lectures at the Japan Society New York, at Asia and Japan Societies across the United States, at the Royal Geographic Society and the British Museum in London, and many other venues. She was the historical consultant for Northern Ballet’s spectacular 2020 ballet Geisha and she appears on Age of the Samurai: Battle for Japan (Netflix). She lives in London with her husband, the author Arthur I. Miller.

"A delightful and illuminating read about Japan’s long history. Downer’s book covers prehistoric times through the present-day. This work has the rare quality of being both scholarly and approachable for the non-expert. . . . Essential reading for both general audiences and scholars who are interested in an engaging overview of Japan’s complex history."

Lesley Downer is a Japan expert, author, journalist, and historian. She has written four novels, The Shogun Quartet, and several works of nonfiction, including the immersive work of journalism Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha and The Brothers: The Hidden World of Japan’s Richest Family, which was chosen as a New York Times Book of the Year. She has traveled widely and given lectures at the Japan Society New York, at Asia and Japan Societies across the United States, at the Royal Geographic Society and the British Museum in London, and many other venues. She was the historical consultant for Northern Ballet’s spectacular 2020 ballet Geisha and she appears on Age of the Samurai: Battle for Japan (Netflix). She lives in London with her husband, the author Arthur I. Miller.

"A delightful and illuminating read about Japan’s long history. Downer’s book covers prehistoric times through the present-day. This work has the rare quality of being both scholarly and approachable for the non-expert. . . . Essential reading for both general audiences and scholars who are interested in an engaging overview of Japan’s complex history."

Lesley Downer is a Japan expert, author, journalist, and historian. She has written four novels, The Shogun Quartet, and several works of nonfiction, including the immersive work of journalism Women of the Pleasure Quarters: The Secret History of the Geisha and The Brothers: The Hidden World of Japan’s Richest Family, which was chosen as a New York Times Book of the Year. She has traveled widely and given lectures at the Japan Society New York, at Asia and Japan Societies across the United States, at the Royal Geographic Society and the British Museum in London, and many other venues. She was the historical consultant for Northern Ballet’s spectacular 2020 ballet Geisha and she appears on Age of the Samurai: Battle for Japan (Netflix). She lives in London with her husband, the author Arthur I. Miller.

"A delightful and illuminating read about Japan’s long history. Downer’s book covers prehistoric times through the present-day. This work has the rare quality of being both scholarly and approachable for the non-expert. . . . Essential reading for both general audiences and scholars who are interested in an engaging overview of Japan’s complex history."