xxxix 391 pages, index, chronology, bibliography. There is an gift inscription on the half title page, remnant sticky tape stains from protective cover on the both the head and tail of the ends papers and page 15 has a small, circular hole at the blank head of the page, neatly repaired with clear tape. The body of the book is clean, unmarked and solid. "In Legends of the Samurai, Hiroaki Sato confronts both the history and the legend of the samurai, untangling the two to present an authentic picture of these legendary warriors. Through his masterful translations of original samurai tales, laws, dicta, reports, and arguments accompanied by insightful commentary, Sato chronicles the changing ethos of the Japanese warrior from the samurai's historical origins to his rise to political power. A fascinating look at Japanese history as seen through the evolution of the samurai, Legends of the Samurai stands as the ultimate authority on its subject."