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"One of the greatest poets and dramatists of our century"
(Observer) Brecht's Lehrstucke or short 'didactic' pieces written
during the years 1929 to 1933, are some of his most experimental
work. Rejecting conventional theatre, they are spare and highly
formalised, drawing on traditional Japanese and Chinese theatre.
They show Brecht in collaboration with the composers Hindemith,
Weill and Eisler, influenced by the new techniques of montage in
the visual arts and seeking new means of expression. Brecht
intended them for performance by schools, workers' groups and
choral societies rather than by professionals, with the idea that
the moral and political lessons contained in them are best conveyed
by participating in an actual production. In addition to the
Lehrstucke, the volume contains The Mother, a longer play, again
with music by Eisler, based on the novel by Gorky. A story of
dawning political consciousness, told with irony and narrative
drive, its central character is one of Brecht's great female roles.
The original production starred Brecht's wife Helene Weigel and
Brecht was buried with the red flag that was a prop in the
production.
When this was originally published in 1950 this was the fullest
biography of one of China’s greatest poets that had ever appeared
in any language. It tells the story of the poet’s life against
the background of contemporary history and, in doing so, gives a
brilliant picture of Chinese life in the eighth century A.D. –
during a period of the Tang Dynasty, fertile in great poets, such
as Wang Wei, Tu Fu and Mêng Haojan.
First published in 1952. The Real Tripitaka gives an account of the
seventh century pilgrim's adventures, spiritual and material, both
in India and after his return to China. In addition the book
contains an account of a Japanese pilgrim's visit to China in the
ninth century, which describes the Wu-t'ai Shan, China's great
place of Pilgrimage, and an eye-witness's account of the great
persecution of Buddhism in 842-845 A.D.
First published in 1963. The Secret History (so called merely
because it was meant for the Mongols and not for the Chinese,) has
been chiefly studied from a learned point of view and its quality
as literature and hence its value to the lay reader have been
greatly overlooked. The Chinese version has been used, but with
constant reference to the Mongol text. The parts selected (founded
on story-tellers' tales) date from the middle of the thirteenth
century.
First published in 1938. Previous translations of the Analects of
Confucius are based upon a medieval interpretation which reflects
the philosophy of the 12th century A.D rather than of the 5th
century B.C., when Confucius lived. This book detaches the Analects
from the Scholastic interpretation and lets these famous sayings
speak for themselves.
First published in 1937. The Book of Songs is a collection of
ancient Chinese songs, dating from 800 to 600 B.C. Until this was
published in 1937 it had not been translated into English since the
middle of nineteenth century, when sinology was still in its
infancy. For the first time the original meaning of 290 out of the
305 songs is given, use being made of the advances in the study of
old Chinese. The result is not merely a clear picture of early
Chinese life, but also the restoration to its proper place in world
literature of one of the finest collection of traditional songs.
First published in 1946. Here in one volume is a collection of
Arthur Waley's translations of Chinese poetry. The book includes
some poems from The Book of Songs and 170 Chinese Poems, More
Translations and The Temple. Some old translations have been
revised and new notes and explanatory material added.
First published in 1960. Over a century ago the Chinese discovered
in a sealed-up cave in the west of China a collection of
manuscripts dating from the fifth century to the end of the tenth.
These included many specimens of popular literature of a kind that
was not previously known to exist. Although the find was made long
ago, only two or three of these pieces had been translated before.
Arthur Waley here translates, whole or as extracts, twenty-six
pieces, making an invaluable addition to world literature.
First published in 1949. This book gives the biographical
background to the many poems of Po Chu-I (A.D 772-846) and traces
the connection between his literary career and the disturbed
political life of the time. The volume also provides new
translations in whole or in part of about a hundred poems by Po
Chu-i.
First published in 1939. This book consists chiefly of extracts
from Chuang Tzu, Mencius and Han Fei Tzu. Chuang Tzu's appeal is to
the imagination; the appeal of mencius is to the moral feelings;
realism, as expounded by Han Fei Tzu, finds a close parallel in
modern Totalitarianism and as a result these extracts from a book
of the third century B.C. nonetheless have a very contemporary
connection.
First published in 1956. Arthur Waley here presents an engrossing
account of the works and life of Yuan Mei (1716-1797), the
best-known poet of his time. Gaiety is the keynote of his works and
the poet was a friend of the Manchu official with whom Commodore
Anson had dramatic dealings at Canton in 1743. Yuan Mei gives an
account (not previously translated) of Anson's interview with the
Manchu authorities. The book contains many translations of Yuan
Mei's verse and prose.
First published in 1934. Unlike previous translations, this
translation of Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching is based not on the medieval
commentaries but on a close study of the whole of early Chinese
literature.
First published in 1931.
Mainly focussing on cultural and geographical aspects, Travels of
an Alchemist are unique in their importance as a source for early
Mongol history, enabling us as they do to fix with certainty the
otherwise obscure and much disputed dates of Chingiz Khan's
movements during his Western campaign. The author, a Taoist doctor,
left some of the most faithful and vivid pictures ever drawn of
nature and society between the Aral and the Yellow Sea.
Waley's introduction provides excellent background information
with which to place the Travels in their appropriate historical,
social and religious setting.
Japan in the 10th century stood physically and culturally isolated
from the rest of the world. Inside this bubble, a subtle and
beautiful world was in operation, and its inhabitants were tied to
the moment, having no interest in the future and disdain for the
past. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon was a product of a
tenth-century courtier's experiences in the palace of Empress
Teishi. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep
notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. This "pillow
book" reflects the confident aesthetic judgments of Shonagon and
her ability to create prose that crossed into the realm of the
poetic. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon is one of the earliest
examples of diary literature whose passages chronicle the events of
the court calendar, the ceremonies and celebrations specific to
Teishi's court, and the vignettes that provide brilliantly drawn
glimpses into the manners and foibles of the aristocracy. A
contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji,
this small diary brings an added dimension to Murasaki's timeless
and seminal work. Arthur Waley's elegant translation of The Pillow
Book of Sei Shonagon captures the beauty of its prose and the
vitality of Shonagon's narrative voice, as well as her quirky
personality traits. In a place and time where poetry was as
important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, Sei
Shonagon's private writings give the reader a charming and intimate
glimpse into a time of isolated innocence and pale beauty.
When this was originally published in 1950 this was the fullest
biography of one of China's greatest poets that had ever appeared
in any language. It tells the story of the poet's life against the
background of contemporary history and, in doing so, gives a
brilliant picture of Chinese life in the eighth century A.D. -
during a period of the Tang Dynasty, fertile in great poets, such
as Wang Wei, Tu Fu and Meng Haojan.
First published in 1958. This volume translates and places in the
appropriate historical context a number of private documents, such
as diaries, autobiographies and confessions, which explain what the
Opium War felt like on the Chinese side.
First published in 1931.
Mainly focussing on cultural and geographical aspects, Travels of
an Alchemist are unique in their importance as a source for early
Mongol history, enabling us as they do to fix with certainty the
otherwise obscure and much disputed dates of Chingiz Khan's
movements during his Western campaign. The author, a Taoist doctor,
left some of the most faithful and vivid pictures ever drawn of
nature and society between the Aral and the Yellow Sea.
Waley's introduction provides excellent background information
with which to place the Travels in their appropriate historical,
social and religious setting.
First published in 1963.
The Secret History (so called merely because it was meant for the
Mongols and not for the Chinese, ) has been chiefly studied from a
learned point of view and its quality as literature and hence its
value to the lay reader have been greatly overlooked. The Chinese
version has been used, but with constant reference to the Mongol
text. The parts selected (founded on story-tellers' tales) date
from the middle of the thirteenth century.
First published in 1938. Previous translations of the Analects of
Confucius are based upon a medieval interpretation which reflects
the philosophy of the 12th century A.D rather than of the 5th
century B.C., when Confucius lived. This book detaches the Analects
from the Scholastic interpretation and lets these famous sayings
speak for themselves.
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