Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of The Tragic Memoir of Prince Katsu Shibayama: The Life and Times of a British Gentleman from Japan by Joseph Faulkner. This novel is published by Histria Fiction, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding original works of fiction.
Set against the Pacific War and told through the eyes of Prince Katsu Shibayama, The Tragic Memoir of Prince Katsu Shibayama follows a Japanese royal who volunteers for the Royal Navy in the Great War, then returns decades later as an admiral in Japan’s Imperial Navy, fighting a very different enemy from the opposite side. The book tracks his rise from pampered Anglophile prince to battle-hardened commander, pulled between his devotion to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his affection for Britain, and the brutal logic of total war.
What feels new here is the vantage point: a Japanese aristocrat who has flown for both sides, who understands Western power from the inside, and who sees the Pacific conflict as a tragedy of politics, pride, and propaganda. In an era of simplified World War II stories, this novel restores ambiguity, moral pressure, and the human cost on every front.
Praise for The Tragic Memoir of Prince Katsu Shibayama:
“The Tragic Memoir of Prince Katsu Shibayama is an utterly fascinating read for any aficionado of the Second World War, especially those interested in the battle for Pacific domination. It is a well-written, comprehensive tale of courage, divided loyalties, love, and unswerving commitment to serve.” — Readers’ Favorite
Joseph Faulkner began his professional career, at the height of the Cold War, with the U.S. Navy where he became an expert on Soviet military aircraft. When that long term conflict ended, he was fortunate to be assigned to NASA. Later, he transitioned to the aerospace industry’s private sector. Exposed to numerous cultures, peoples, technologies and histories, he brings that experience and perspective to his writing.
