1890. Yamamoto Kiyoki is a Japanese art student, dreaming of studying in Paris with the inspiring and vibrant Impressionist painters. Yamamoto Ryusei is Kiyoki's father. Ryusei's art, carving intricate masks for traditional Japanese theater, has been his refuge from loneliness since the death of his beloved wife, and he is revered as the most inspired artist of his kind. He expects his only son to honor the traditions of his family and his country, not to be seduced by Western ideas of what is beautiful. Ryusei hopes Kiyoki will follow his own distinguished career, creating masks that will become the family's crowning achievement. But what is a father to do when his son's path is not what he had planned? And how can a son honor his father, and yet fulfill his own destiny?
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“Richman has successfully drawn upon her historical research and her own experience…filled with historical detail and strong characterization.”
— Library Journal
“A meticulous profile of a man struggling against his native culture, his family, and his own sense of responsibility.”
— New York Times Book Review“This reverent, formal, and ambitious first novel boasts a glossy surface and convincing period detail.”
— Publishers WeeklyMs. Richman is a very special talent.
— Kristin Hannah, New York Times bestselling authorBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Alyson Richman is an accomplished painter and her novels combine her deep love of art, historical research, and travel. Alyson’s novels have been published in 25 languages and have reached the bestseller lists both in the United States and abroad. She graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in art history and Japanese studies.
John Lee is the winner of numerous Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration. He has twice won acclaim as AudioFile’s Best Voice in Fiction & Classics. He also narrates video games, does voice-over work, and writes plays. He is an accomplished stage actor and has written and coproduced the feature films Breathing Hard and Forfeit. He played Alydon in the 1963–64 Doctor Who serial The Daleks.