An irresistibly winning romantic historical adventure set in medieval Japan and tinged with
fantasy revolving around the art of waka poetry "A charming magical picaresque journey
through medieval Japan filled with mystery meaning and wonderful imagery" -- Sean Lusk
author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley Matsuo is expected to be a samurai like his
father before him. But as he is training in the art of war he realises he was destined for a
different art altogether. Turning his back on his future as a warrior of the sword he decides
instead to do battle with words as a poet. Thus begins a story of intrigue and adventure
passion and betrayal. Matsuo's quest to find his true self and his true love takes him across
medieval Japan through bloody battlefields and burning cities. But his ultimate test will be
the uta awase - a tournament where Japan's greatest poets engage in fierce verbal combat for
the honour of victory and where Matsuo will find himself fighting for his life. The Samurai of
the Red Carnation is both a thrilling swashbuckling adventure and a sensitive meditation on
love and poetry. Denis Thériault is known for his award-winning novel The Peculiar Life of a
Lonely Postman which also made extensive use of original poetry in Japanese styles and which
won the author the Japan-Canada Book Prize.
