Deep River

Endō Shūsaku · 1923–1996 · Japan

Originally Fukai Kawa (Japanese) · translated by Van C. Gessel

Why it matters

Japanese tourists converge on the Ganges at Varanasi, each carrying private grief, and find a defrocked priest serving the dying regardless of creed. Endō's last novel widens Silence's question of faith to every religion at once.

At a glance

Multiple converging pilgrims' backstories build slowly toward a single shared destination and theme.