The Blue-Eyed Tarokaja [Hardcover]

Donald Keene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 1996

The preeminent Western authority on Japanese literature a presents a collection of personal essays and literary vignettes that offers a fresh and personal insight into his prolific career as a writer and translator, traveler and social observer.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Unlike many American commentators on Japan, Donald Keene has not only lived much of his life there but become an eminent literary scholar himself in Japanese. This collection of essays reveals both Keene's vast erudition and his keen insight into Japanese culture and literature. The essay on "The Tale of Genji" alone makes this an important book.

From Library Journal

This selection of early and late articles by the eminent translator, scholar, and professor of Japanese (Columbia Univ.) is loosely divided into five parts: "Myself," "Japan," "Travel," "Japanese Literature," and "Personal Observations." Most of the 37 articles introduce Japan (men, women, food, language, Kyoto, Nara, Abe Kobo); others discuss more advanced topics (the Iemoto system, teaching The Tale of Genji). Some of the essays deal with history (e.g., cannibalism), some are translations of short stories, but most deal with Keene's own experience. Editor Rimer (East Asian language and literature, Univ. of Pittsburgh) has compiled an eclectic mix of Keene's work that gives a taste of his various writings. Recommended for small collections and for those lacking Keene's other works.?Kitty Chen Dean, Nassau Coll., Garden City, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (April 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231103409
• ISBN-13: 978-0231103404
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,418,336 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pardon my bias..., September 30, 2004

By 

Jesse D. Watson (North Dakota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Blue-Eyed Tarokaja (Hardcover)

I will tell you right off the bat that I like this book very much, that I love Donald Keene very much, and that he's my sensei. Therefore, go ahead and mark the "this review was not helpful" box if you must.

I'm not saying I've lost all forms of objectivity... I'm just saying that this book was clearly intended, at its core audience level, for someone like me, and, quite simply, it has hit the mark. Call me biased if you want, but if you're a reader of my particular bend, it shouldn't matter.

It's not a perfect book. It could have included more. However, what it does, it does damn well, and it's very deserving of five-stars.

Throughout the different sections, Donald's essays on various topics are presented, often introduced through humorous and/or meaningful anecdotes of his own. The entries are all very interesting and lively to read, insightful memoirs from someone who understands Japanese literature, language and culture well and conveys that understanding better than probably anyone else. Writings included in this book are rare, and they are not found in his other volumes. Most of them were published in magazines and newspapers, many Japanese. Some of this is appearing in English for the first time, and all of it, unless you have access to tremendous research capabilities, will be difficult, if not impossible, to find elsewhere. It is all of high-quality and more than worthy of a spot on the bookshelf of any taroukaja.

Donald Keene will be a legend after he dies. If you want to get to know him, read this book. It's as close as you can get to him, and nothing is hidden.

So there's my bias for you. I laid it bare on the table. It's warranted, though, and since no one else has taken the time to review this book, you're stuck with my very favorable opinion. :)