Hidden By The Leaves

Hidden By The Leaves is the first book in the Hidden Trilogy by SDL Curry, and the subject matter has to do with the 17^th century attempt by the third shogun to rid Japan of Christianity which had been flourishing there for the last 75 years. Between 1614 and 1643, about 5,000 Christians were executed.

I spent an hour with this book and decided not to continue. There were two issues that I found difficult. First, the dialogue of the characters was exceedingly pedestrian.

Second, the author had a decidedly Christian bias in his review of the historical events. He dedicated his books “to all the courageous martyrs and missionaries of Japan.” In the foreword, Curry wrote that the people on whom this historical novel were based were the “real heroes of history, who are just, including all the brave missionaries of the Society along with their faithful converts.” In a letter to his superior about the prosecution, Father Joaquim Martinez wrote that the shogun perceived that Christian “teachings and the Word of God” threatened his authority, which of course it did. As if it was untrue, he wrote of the shogun, “He suspects that somehow the peasants are being seduced and supported by a foreign power. Regrettably, he believes the Society is the channel for that foreign power – a suspicion that has led to our persecution and torture…. I know God will be with us, and His Word will take foundation in Japan.”

I’m too tired of the use of religion to justify intrusions into societies where such beliefs are not voluntarily sought, tired of the religiously entitled who believe their views are the only correct ones, and tired of allegedly righteous slaughter in the name of deity. I’ve read other books about this period that were fascinating and did not need to glorify one viewpoint over another to capture the historical content of the moment. I can’t give Curry’s efforts my endorsement.