Lesley Downer

Concubines, courtesans and geishas

Lesley — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:05:22 +0000

A reviewer of The Last Concubine in the highly respected Literary Review wrote: ‘The author, who lived in Japan for many years, has published non-fiction accounts of the lives of the geishas, and capitalises on recent Western interest in their esoteric, vanished world with her detailed depiction of Sachi’s life in the rarefied harem.’ I’m very grateful for the review - but I have to point out that my book has nothing to do with geishas. A Spanish journalist also wrote to me: ‘Your book “Madame Sadayakko” was a success. Now you return to the topic of the geishas. Why are you so fascinated about this world?’ and ‘How was the life of a geisha in the Palace of the Women?’

Geishas and concubines have absolutely nothing in common other than being Japanese women.

The Last Concubine is about the concubines of the shogun, who were usually aristocratic ladies chosen to be the shogun’s ‘second wife’ or ‘third wife’ and hopefully to bear a son for him to be the future shogun. To be a concubine was a highly coveted honour and concubines were formally recognised in a ceremony much like a marriage.

Geisha and courtesans on the other hand were (and are) part of the demi monde. Geisha are entertainers - the word means artistes - who performed dances and songs to private gatherings usually of men. In old Japan they were at the very bottom of the social system (like actresses in the Victorian west - think ‘Don’t put your daughter on the stage, Mrs Worthington.’) Traditionally they were not supposed to sell sex. That was the courtesans’ job and they were prohibited from stealing the courtesans’ clients. If they married they had to stop being geishas - geishas and wives were like opposite sides of the coin.

In other words, geishas, concubines and courtesans were entirely different, not just a catch all term for Japanese women, and not to be confused.

Oxford University Japan Society talk on 18 November, 2008

admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:11:23 +0000

Tuesday November 18th
7 pm
Oxford University Japan Society
Oriel College, Oxford
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace

Free for members, £1.50 for non-members

Canadian paperback edition of The Last Concubine

admin — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:06:47 +0000

Lesley Downer is featured author on the Canadian Penguin Book Club website.

Canadian paperback of The Last Concubine

German interviews with Lesley Downer

admin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:46:30 +0000

There are two German language interviews with Lesley Downer online at BYM.de and NDRKultur.de, which also includes a radio interview available as an audio podcast.

German translation of The Last Concubine

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:20:05 +0000

The Last Concubine will shortly be released in German, published by C. Bertelsmann under the title Die letzte Konkubine.

Sunday Times article – Japan’s new professional seducers

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:34:58 +0000

Japan’s new professional seducers

This woman leads a double life. Her boyfriend thinks she’s a secretary. In fact she is one of Japan’s new breed of professional seducers, hired by embittered spouses to entrap their straying partners. And she’ll stop at nothing to get the desired results.

Read Full Article

This article appeared in the Sunday Times on August 31 2008 in the Life and Style - Women section.

Italian translation of The Last Concubine

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:36:53 +0000

The Last Concubine has been published in Italian by Piemme under the title L’ultima concubina.

The Last Concubine tour dates autumn 2008

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:22:22 +0000

Monday October 6th
7 pm
Borders, York
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace
In collaboration with York Japan Day, October 5th/6th

Tuesday November 18th
7 pm
Oxford University Japan Society
Oriel College, Oxford
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace

Free for members, £1.50 for non-members

Watch this space!

Portuguese translation of The Last Concubine

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:45:52 +0000

The Last Concubine has been published in Portuguese by Dom Quixote under the title A Última Concubina.

The Last Concubine tour dates summer 2008

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:25:50 +0000

Thursday July 10th
6 pm
Chichester Festivities 2008
Old Kitchen, Bishop’s Palace, Chichester
www.chifest.org.uk
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace

Wednesday 16th July
11.30am
Ways with Words 2008
Barn Theatre, Dartington Hall, Devon
www.wayswithwords.co.uk
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace

Monday October 6th
7 pm
Borders, York
Illustrated lecture on The Last Concubine: Secrets of the Women’s Palace
In collaboration with York Japan Day, October 5th/6th

Watch this space!