Discovering the brilliance of The Last Samurai by Helen DeWitt

Recently, I was reminded of the book "The Last Samurai" by Helen DeWitt when it appeared on The New York Times best books of the century list. To my embarrassment, I had never actually read it, mistakenly believing it was the basis for the Tom Cruise movie, which I found unappealing.

After finally picking up the book, I regret my previous oversight, as it is indeed as exceptional as its reputation suggests. I had the profound sensation while reading it that its true genius could only be fully appreciated through the lens of my own experiences.

The Actual Story

Contrary to my previous assumptions, the plot of "The Last Samurai" has no connection to Tom Cruise or 19th-century Samurai in Japan. Instead, it revolves around the life of Sibylla, a woman raising her exceptionally gifted son, Ludo, in genteel poverty in 1990s London. Their financial struggles lead them to spend their days riding the Circle Line of the London Underground, as they cannot afford to heat their home.

It took me far longer than it should have to fully appreciate the brilliance of "The Last Samurai." This experience serves as a reminder of the valuable lessons literature can impart and the depths of human experience it can illuminate.