- Paperback: 496 pages
- Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks (12 Sep 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0192803727
- ISBN-13: 978-0192803726
- Product Dimensions: 21.2 x 13.4 x 3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 664,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Product details |
Product Description
Product Description
This collection of short stories, including many new translations, is the first to span the whole of Japan's modern era from the end of the nineteenth century to the present day. Beginning with the first writings to assimilate and rework Western literary traditions, through the flourishing of the short story genre in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Taisho era, to the new breed of writers produced under the constraints of literary censorship, and the current writings reflecting the pitfalls and paradoxes of modern life, this anthology offers a stimulating survey of the development of the Japanese short story. Various indigenous traditions, in addition to those drawn from the West, recur throughout the stories: stories of the self, of the Water Trade (Tokyo's nightlife of geishas and prostitutes), of social comment, love and obsession, legends and fairytales. This collection includes the work of two Nobel prize-winners: Kawabata and Oe, the talented women writers Hirabayashi, Euchi, Okamoto, and Hayashi, together with the acclaimed Tanizaki, Mishima, and Murakami. The introduction by Theodore Goossen gives insight into these exotic and enigmatic, sometimes disturbing stories, derived from the lyrical roots of Japanese literature with its distinctive stress on atmosphere and beauty.
About the Author
Theodore Goossen is Professor of Japanese at York University, Ontario. A talented translator, he is well-acquainted with the contemporary Japanese literary scene, and editor of Descant, a Japanese literary journal.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Good book, I have read the first dozen or so stories and must say that if you are not used to Japanese fiction you may find, the early stories at least, are quite differently written than western ones. It will be an alternate way to view themes from Japanese history.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Japanese literature, it's not something I would ever have dreamed of reading. Yet a couple of weeks ago, I happened to walk past this book in Waterstones, it caught my eye, I decided to buy it and have never looked back since.
I am a complete novice to this genre and was totally unsure of what to expect. The book, which is in fact an anthology, contains dozens of short stories written by some of Japan's leading authors from the latter part of the nineteenth century up to and including the twentieth century. A period (according to the book) in which Japanese literature evolved completely.
The stories within the book cover almost every aspect of human (and in one case - non-human!) life. Some you will love more than others. Certain stories will grab your attention and their shortness is a curse, whereas others may repulse and their shortness is a blessing. The stories are varied and give a fabulous insight into the often mysterious and bizarre Japanese culture and psyche.
The book is compellingly fascinating and will have you turning the pages late into the night. As the book is an anthology, you have the added option of skipping to the next story if the one you are reading is not for you. Japanese literature is beautifully written and relies heavily on description and the bodily sensations. The stories are wonderfully constructed and narrated in ways that are in complete contrast to Western literature. Even when translated, these stories ooze all things Japanese!
If you are a complete beginner to Japanese literature, then I thoroughly recommend this book. It gave me countless hours of literary pleasure and a list of authors whose works I intend to purchase.
A break from the norm but completely enjoyable.
I am a complete novice to this genre and was totally unsure of what to expect. The book, which is in fact an anthology, contains dozens of short stories written by some of Japan's leading authors from the latter part of the nineteenth century up to and including the twentieth century. A period (according to the book) in which Japanese literature evolved completely.
The stories within the book cover almost every aspect of human (and in one case - non-human!) life. Some you will love more than others. Certain stories will grab your attention and their shortness is a curse, whereas others may repulse and their shortness is a blessing. The stories are varied and give a fabulous insight into the often mysterious and bizarre Japanese culture and psyche.
The book is compellingly fascinating and will have you turning the pages late into the night. As the book is an anthology, you have the added option of skipping to the next story if the one you are reading is not for you. Japanese literature is beautifully written and relies heavily on description and the bodily sensations. The stories are wonderfully constructed and narrated in ways that are in complete contrast to Western literature. Even when translated, these stories ooze all things Japanese!
If you are a complete beginner to Japanese literature, then I thoroughly recommend this book. It gave me countless hours of literary pleasure and a list of authors whose works I intend to purchase.
A break from the norm but completely enjoyable.
Format:Paperback
A fantastic selection of Japanese literature, and an informative preface for someone like me who knows nothing on the subject (yet). I love how there are authors anyone's heard of (Soseki, Banana, Murakami) on top of writers who are more obscure in the West, but just as good (Kenzaburo for instance).
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
