The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon - The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan (Paperback)

Take a firsthand journey into a time, society and world full of intrigue. In the tenth century, Japan stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Sei Shonagon--a young courtesan of the Heian period--kept a diary, which provides a highly personal account of the intrigues, dalliances, quirks, and habits of Japan's late tenth-century elite. She was a contemporary and acquaintance of the well-known courtesan Murasaki Shikibu, author of the Japanese masterpiece The Tale of Genji. A perfect companion to that work, The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon brings an added dimension to Murasaki's timeless and seminal novel and further illuminates Japanese court life in all its ritualistic glory. Through his elegant and readable abridged translation, Arthur Waley perfectly conveys Sei Shonagon's girlish temperament and quirky personality. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, Sei Shonagon's private writings offer a charming, intimate glimpse into a world of innocence and pale beauty. A new introduction by respected Japanese literary scholar Dennis Washburn provides historical insight into Japanese culture, Sei Shonagon's world, and Waley's translation.

General

Imprint:	Tuttle Publishing
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	August 2018
Translators:	Waley
Foreword by:	Washburn
Dimensions:	130 x 203 x 14mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	128
ISBN-13:	978-4-8053-1462-3
Categories:	Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Historical, political & military Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Literary Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Gender studies > Women's studies > General Books > Biography > Historical, political & military Books > Biography > Literary
LSN:	4-8053-1462-1
Barcode:	9784805314623

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