David Mitchell's new novel is set on and around an artificial island called Dejima, constructed in the bay of Nagasaki to house representatives of the Vereenigde Oest-Indische Compagnie (Dutch East India Company), the sole official conduit for European trade with Japan during almost all of the rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns (1603-1867). Dejima is tiny: 'two hundred paces along its outer curve ... by 80 paces deep' containing 'some 25 roofs'. It is both connected to and separated from the mainland by a gated bridge: the Dutch are allowed to cross, but only rarely.

LRB 10 June 2010 | PDF Download