Shōgun

Shogun is the story of an english sailor that shipwrecks on the coast of japan. Really though its a story about the clash of radically different cultures. James Clavell manages to pull of a bit of a magic trick with this book. You start the book feeling like a foreigner to the story, the english sailor is lost and confused, and so are you. Slowly but surely though, you learn to understand and love the japanese way. By the end of the book it feels like you've been culturally assimilated! The scope is huge without sacrificing the intricate details and the character development is very well done.

Historical Accuracy aside, Shogun is a masterpiece of historical fiction. Be warned though, this book will make you really really want to visit Japan.