This well-preserved Book Club Edition is in fine, pristine condition, with no marks or signs of wear. The pages are crisp and tight, and the book remains square and unmarked. The dust jacket is clean and unmarked, with red cloth boards and black lettering along the spine. Shōgun is inspired by real historical events, drawing from the life of William Adams, the first Englishman to reach Japan. In Volume 2, the story continues to follow John Blackthorne as he navigates the complexities of Japanese customs, deepens his relationship with the powerful warlord Toranaga (inspired by Tokugawa Ieyasu), and becomes entwined in a romance with the elegant Lady Mariko. The plot delves further into the intense political struggle among rival warlords vying for control of Japan, while also exploring Blackthorne's growing internal conflict between his Western values and the Eastern philosophies he encounters. (John Blackthorne is the main protagonist of Shōgun). He is an English sailor and pilot-major of a Dutch trading ship who becomes shipwrecked in Japan in the early 1600s. His character is based on the real-life historical figure William Adams, the first Englishman to reach Japan.) The Shōgun TV series set a new record for Emmy Award wins.