May 2012
Samurai. Exquisite Warriors
For immediate release
A prestigious book written by Richard Béliveau complements the exhibition presented at Pointe-à-Callière.
Montréal, May 15, 2012 – Written by Richard Béliveau and published by Libre Expression and Pointe-à-Callière, the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History, Samurai. Exquisite Warriors is a book that offers a foray into the captivating world of the samurai, and which was produced in conjunction with the exhibition Samurai – The Prestigious Collection of Richard Béliveau.
Well known for their heroism, the samurai were great warriors as well as patrons who enabled the Japanese spirit and Japanese art to flourish. Richly illustrated, the book was produced to complement the exhibition presented at the Museum from May 17, 2012 to March 31, 2013.
Featuring the magnificent objects from Richard Béliveau’s collection, considered to be true treasures, the 144-page book is centred on several different themes, such as In the Days of the Samurai, The Way of the Warrior, The Way of Zen, and Refined Ways. There are sections on armours and their various components, including helmets and highly decorated masks that bear witness to great technical skills, and on weaponry, featuring spears, swords, blades, and other weapons. Another section examines samurai life, which is infused with beauty, allowing readers to explore the diversity of Japanese art.
The book is intended both for fans of Japanese culture and for those seeking to explore the fascinating world of the courageous and legendary samurai warriors, as well as Richard Béliveau’s collection, one of the largest “samurai collections” in the world. This collection is distinguished by its authentic, complete armours, by the technical virtuosity of the objects it contains, and by the rarity of its pieces. The book is available at the Museum Shop, and will also be available in bookstores as of May 30, 2012.
About Richard Béliveau
A well-known and well-liked figure in Québec, Richard Béliveau, Ph.D. in Biochemistry, is the director of the Molecular Medicine Laboratory and a researcher in the Department of Neurosurgery at Notre-Dame Hospital (CHUM). A seasoned researcher, he has published over 240 papers in various international medical journals. His primary research interests include cancer prevention and treatment. He is the author of the best-selling books Foods That Fight Cancer; Cooking with Foods That Fight Cancer; Eating Well, Living Well; and Death: The Scientific Facts to Help Us Understand It Better. Mr. Béliveau was the winner of the 2006 “Audience Award” at the Salon du livre in Montréal, and was named Personality of the Year for 2006 by L’Actualité magazine, and Québec Personality of the Year for 2007 by Au Québec magazine.
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