Translated and introduced by accomplished Japanese language and literature scholar William Scott Wilson, this anthology compiles the writings of 12 samurai warriors and paints a cultural picture of feudal Japan between the 13th and 17th centuries. Each warrior's text is preceded by a brief summary of his life and career. What emerges from this collection is a picture of the samurai class that not only acknowledges a man's behavior on the battlefield but also surprises with its depth and humanity.