Silence

Silence – Shusaku Endo

Silence is a 1966 novel of historical fiction of a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan, who endured persecution in the time of the Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians) that followed the defeat of the Shimabara Rebellion.  The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prizee, it has been called “Endo’s supreme achievment” and “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels”.  Written mostly in the form of a letter by its central character, its theme is that of a silent God who accompanies a believer in adversity.