Samurai's Tale, The

Set in 16th century Japan, this novel tells the story of Taro, an orphan who is taken by soldiers but who eventually realizes his dream of becoming a samurai. While the plot of the novel is not fast-paced, Taro's character is complex in that he speculates about the validity of beliefs, customs, and values in his society, becomes a samurai warrior, and writes poetry, some of which is included in the narrative.