The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

In 1799, a young clerk leaves Holland for Dejima, Japan. He plans to earn his fortune by working for five years for the only European company allowed to trade with the Japanese Empire. For various reasons, including wars back in Europe, his five years turn into eighteen, and Jacob’s character develops and matures as he struggles against corporate corruption, falls in love with a Japanese midwife and deals with people from many different nations and walks of life.  Readers of historical fiction, check out The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet @ the library!