William Adams was the sole survivor of an expedition in the reign of King James 1 to sail across the world and open up the rich trading grounds of the East. This is his story, of how he rises to a position of great influence in the Imperial Court and becomes a great landowner. It is also a story of conflict - between Europe and Japan; betwen Catholic Jesuits and Protestant English; between English and Dutch traders; between old worlds and new; betwen rival empires and trading blocks. It sheds a fascinating light on the dangers - and huge rewards - of Europe's trade with the East, and of the isolation of those early traders who might not see a fellow countryman from one year to the next. Adams ended up living - and dying - in Japan for nearly 20 years, ending his days as a wealthy and important person. This very readable account fills in some of those blank spots about early trade and empire.