Cassell, 2002, $29.95, ISBN 0-304-35948-3, 256 pages, hardback

What a marvelous book! I eagerly devoured this from cover to cover, even though, or perhaps especially so, because I had never heard of this campaign. Mind you, to my Western-centric eyes, understanding who's who with all these Eastern names takes a while.

Still, once you get into the flow, you can follow the campaign of Hide Yoshi, the Japanese Shogun, as he attempts to conquer not only Korea, but China as well. In a fast version of blitzkrieg, his troops managed to overrun most of Korea, eventually reaching the Yalu River-- the border of China. However, fierce partisan attacks hammered Japanese rear areas and supply lines, and the Korean Navy proved tenacious with its longer-ranged cannon.

Turnbull spells this out with precision, patience, and a little bit of style. It may not necessarily be masterful writing, but given the subject matter, a straightforward approach is probably best. It's just that the subject is so new, at least to me, and contains all the elements of a tough but even campaign that could go either way. Open field battles, sieges, guerrilla attacks, and naval battles large and small all punctuate the narrative.

The images are well chosen: wood cuts, screens, modern photos, color illustrations, and maps all contribute to the allure of the book.

If you're in the mood for something different, this period in history offers a nice ride. And Turnbull resounds with enthusiasm. It's contagious.

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