A renowned 20th Century Japanese author, Endo Shusaku (March 27, 1923 - September 29, 1996) wrote from a unique perspective of being a Roman Catholic Japanese. His mother converted when he was a small child, and raised the young Endo as a Catholic.
His books reflect many of Endo's experiences as he was growing up. This includes the stigma of being an outsider, the experience of being a foreigner, the life of a hospital patient, and the struggle with tuberculosis. However, his books mainly deal with the moral fabric of life. His Roman Catholic faith can be seen at some level in all of his books, and it is often a central feature. Most of his characters struggle with complex moral dilemmas, and their choices often produce mixed or tragic results.
Shusaku Endo's books have been translated into several languages. The following are among the more prominent of his many works: