When I Whistle

Oneof Endo's most unusual and powerful novels isset largely in a modern hospital, with themes and scenes that eerily seem to predate "Never Let Me Go"A jaded businessman has a chance encounter with the doctor son of his best friend at school, Ozu, and memories are stirred of a former love interest of Ozu's, Aiko. The son of his friend proves to be contemptuous of the outmoded values of his father's world and ruthless in pursuit of success at his hospital. The story reaches a terrible climax when Aiko, now a middle-aged cancer-sufferer, is admitted to the hospital and Ozu leads the way in experimenting on her with dangerous drugs. "

Shusako Endo (19231996)is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese authors of the late 20th century, and the nation’sleading Christian novelist. Born in 1923, he won many major literary awards and was nominated for the Nobel Prize several times. His novels, which have been translated into28 languages, include＂Deep River,＂ ＂The Final Martyrs,＂ ＂ALife of Jesus,＂ ＂Scandal,＂ ＂Silence,＂ and ＂Wonderful Fool.＂ Martin Scorsese’s long-cherished film version of ＂Silence＂ is in production anddue for release in 2013.＂