The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet (1st ed.)

From the author of Cloud Atlas, now a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant, and directed byLanaand AndyWachowski and Tom TykwerBONUS: This edition contains a discussion guideforThe Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.The year is 1799, the place Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor, the Japanese Empire's single port and sole window onto the world, designed to keep the West at bay.

To this place of devious merchants, deceitful interpreters, and costly courtesans comes Jacob de Zoet, a devout young clerk who has five years in the East to earn a fortune of sufficient size to win the hand of his wealthy fiancee back in Holland.

But Jacob's original intentions are eclipsed after a chance encounter with Orito Aibagawa, the disfigured midwife to the city's powerful magistrate.

The borders between propriety, profit, and pleasure blur until Jacob finds his vision clouded, one rash promise made and then fatefully brokenthe consequences of which will extend beyond Jacob's worst imaginings.Look for special features inside.Join the Circle for author chats and more.