The Battle

The Battle - Mitsouko Amidst a Clash of Empires

A pretty name - and, above all, most feminine.

Mitsouko: it has a sweet sound...very sweet, and so is the meaning...

'honeycomb,' or, when written with another Chinese character, 'mystery.'

Nagasaki, 1905. War looms between Russia and Japan. Amidst escalating tensions, the captivating Marquise Mitsouko Yorisaka and her naval officer husband stand at a dangerous crossroads. Embracing Western modernity, the couple navigates a treacherous path between ancient traditions and the urgent needs of an empire on the brink of destruction.

As the Russian battleship fleet hurtles towards the decisive Battle of Tsushima, Mitsouko becomes central to a subtle game of espionage, charming British liaison Herbert Fergan in a high-stakes game to glean secrets that could alter history. Unexpectedly, renowned French portraitist Jean-François Felze steps into this world, commissioned by the Marquise to render her portrait, unwittingly being drawn into a web of duty and desire.

Prix Goncourt award-winning author, and career French naval officer, Claude Farrère plunges readers headfirst into the heart of the conflict - from intimate salons rife with intrigue to the thunderous, visceral, bloody reality of the first (and last) great clash between modern battleship fleets. Beyond a war story, The Battle explores the depths of the human spirit and the staggering sacrifices demanded when cultures collide.

This landmark DatAsia Press edition presents Farrère's masterpiece anew, featuring the first nuanced English translation, Farrère's original preface, extensive annotations, maps, historical context, interpretive analysis, and 108 painstakingly restored color illustrations by Charles Fouqueray from the 1925 limited edition. Discover a story of love, sacrifice, and human souls tested amidst a world-altering collision of East and West.