What an excellent novel for a layman who knows little to nothing about Japanese history! 'A Brief History of the Samurai' presents historical fact and folktale alike, contrasting real events with incredible legends!
This is thoroughly researched, and has an excellent 'Sources and Recommended Reading' section, which will aid my reading on the topic of Japanese history a great deal.
Five stars, and my hearty recommendation to anyone who's interested in Japanese history but uncertain where to start.