Hell Screen ("Jigoku Hen"): and Other Stories (H W Norman-Transl) [Hardcover]

Ryunosuke Akutagawa (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0837130174 | ISBN-13: 978-0837130170 | Publication Date: July 1, 1970

"There can be no doubt that [Akutagawa] had more individuality than any other writer of his time and has left in Japanese literature a mass of artistic work, often grotesque and curious, that, while it undoubtedly angers the proletarian experimenters who now hold the stage and fight with lusty pens and a highly developed class consciousness against all that he stood for, will continue to live as long as men go on treasuring the fancies their fellows from time to time set down with care on paper."--Glen W. Shaw

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese (translation)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 177 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press Reprint (July 1, 1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0837130174
• ISBN-13: 978-0837130170
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,742,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hell Screen ("Jigoku Hen"), June 27, 2001

By 

Libri Mundi "Libri Mundi" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hell Screen ("Jigoku Hen"): and Other Stories (H W Norman-Transl) (Hardcover)

This is an amazing book - Ryunoske Akutagawa was probably one of the most talented but under rated authors of the whole talented bunch. Again, like most of the Japanese traslations (with exception of Mishima, Kawabata, Oe) - this is poor translation (I would rather use the term inadequate or less than sufficient). If we are aware of the culture then we can see the canvas much more clearly and understand how vivid it is. I found a fantastic first edition where the drawings are just amazing. To many of the western people the stories may look like folklores but believe me there is more to it.