The Life of a Geisha [Hardcover]

Eleanor Underwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1999

THE LIFE OF A GEISHA illustrates the fascinating world of Japan's powerful and seductive geishas, a fading yet beautiful world that has captured the imaginations of millions of readers. This striking book contains full-color woodblock prints made during Japan's famous Edo Period, historic and contemporary photographs of geisha life, and images of the "floating world," Japan's mysterious artistic subculture. The accompanying text includes evocative Japanese poems and haikus. All celebrate the beauty and creativity of the geisha, who with her exquisitely detailed costume, elaborate makeup and hairstyle, and artfully ritualized behavior, chastely beguiles and entertains Japan's most powerful men.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

The mysterious milieu of Japan's treasured geisha-with her stylized makeup, elaborate coiffure, elegant kimono, and artful, coquettish manner-has long fascinated observers around the globe. With gorgeous illustrations and a lively text, "The Life of a Geisha" explores the world of geisha, from their early predecessors in the seventh century to modern geisha today. Beautiful ukiyo-e woodblock prints by Japanese masters Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi, Kunisada and others reveal the special geisha spirit, or iki, that brought forth the popular rise of geisha. Geisha songs, haiku and senry (satirical Edo-period verse) accompany enchanting images of geisha in various stages of development-from shikomi or indentured servant, to maiko or apprentice geisha-to portray the unique realm of these female artist-entertainers who gained full-fledged geisha status only after years of shamisen-playing and other lessons. Antique photographers from the late nineteenth century as well as vintage postcards and posters offer a glimpse into the singular Japanese subculture that was little known in the years before World war II, while stunning art photography from the mid-1940's to today illustrates geisha's contemporary role as beloved standard-bearers of traditional arts. This lovely volume fully illuminates the seductive geisha world, offering a look "behind the scenes" into the life and times of this chastely beguiling female icon who has captivated Japan's most powerful men for over 200 years.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Smithmark Pub (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765117398
• ISBN-13: 978-0765117397
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 10.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,486,333 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Reader's Companion, January 25, 2000

By 

Maria L. Salas (Berkeley, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life of a Geisha (Hardcover)

I bought this book while I was reading Golden's "Memoirs of a Geisha" and found it quite helpful in pulling together mental pictures while I was reading the novel. "Memoirs" is so rich in detail that having beautiful pictures and historical sidenotes really enhanced my reading experience and helped me get more of a feeling for the environment in which the story takes place. "Life of a Geisha" also makes a fantastic coffee table book and conversation piece, with all it's magnificent photos, facts, and poems!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Visually pleasing..., June 17, 2002

By 

N. Diaz "Dancing Incognito" (Coconut Creek, Fl, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Life of a Geisha (Hardcover)

This book, whilst visually pleasing, does not really contain a whole lot of new information about geisha.

I also disliked the fact how the author kept on refering to Arthur Golden's book, "Memoirs of a Geisha" all the way through it. The reason why I disliked this is largely due to the fact that Memoirs IS a work of fiction, not non-fiction, and it should never be used as a reference for trying to present to us factual information about geisha.

If you don't care too much for pretty pictures, but want good solid information, this probably is not the book for you.

If you don't care too much for the information - but want lots of lovely pictures to feast your eyes on...by all means buy this book!

If, you are just as obsessed like I am with learning about the geisha culture, it probably wont matter to you, regardless! *chuckles*

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a gorgeous book, October 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Life of a Geisha (Hardcover)

The text is familiar to anyone who has read "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden or "Geisha" by Liza Dalby. The numerous illustrations are beautiful, and make this book well worth the purchase price.