A review by florisw
The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell

5.0

What a fantastic introduction to the pen of David Mitchell, and a great way to start 2021! There is so miuch to be impressed about with this novel. It is meticulously researched, allowing Mitchell to seamlessly blend history with fiction. It is incredibly well-written, at times reading more like poetry than prose. I very much enjoyed his style and pace, which strike a nice balance between scene-setting and crispy dialogue. As a Hollander myself, Mitchell's use and command of the Dutch language at times is very admirable, eclipsed only by his use and command of Japanese. The story itself - although it has an odd structure - is also very compelling. It begins on the island of Dejima, and stays there for most of the novel, following the thoughts and experiences of Jacob as he adjusts to his new post (not just in his profession, but in his life). The almost claustrophobic setting of the trading island makes for a really concentrated narrative, where events are tightly-linked and happen in close proximity. Mitchell navigates this limitation of space really well, and finds ways of magnifying various aspects of daily life on Dejima: Marinus' garden; Chief Vorstenbosch's office; Jacob's dorm; the warehouse; etc. The characters are colourful (although some more than others), and their actions elicit strong emotions. Jacob made me feel frustrated, but also nostalgic, appreciative, curious, and many other things. Late in the novel, Van Cleef's actions induced feelings of disgust, sadness, and gratification, all within the space of a chapter or two. All in all, I look forward to reading more of Mitchell's work, even if it is only half as good as this one.

I thank Stephen for recommending this book, and Alibel for making me excited to read it!