Simon Partner Libros

Kawai Koume's perspective as a poet and painter from a lower-ranking samurai family offers a unique glimpse into the social, economic, and cultural dynamics of 19th-century Japan. Simon Partner explores her life as a wife, mother, and grandmother, revealing the challenges and transformations during this pivotal era. Through Koume's experiences and artistry, the book captures the essence of a society in flux, highlighting the personal and collective narratives that shaped Japan's history.

In a narrative history rich in colorful detail, Simon Partner uses the story of an ordinary merchant farmer as a vantage point onto sweeping social transformation and its unwitting agents. Partner's history of Yokahama as a vibrant meeting place humanizes the story of Japan's revolutionary 1860s and their profound consequences.