{"product_id":"9784805317990","title":"The Essential Akutagawa","description":"Author: Ryunosuke Akutagawa\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9784805317990\u003cbr\u003ePublisher: Berkeley Books\u003cbr\u003eYear first published: 01 Oct 2025\u003cbr\u003ePages: 256\u003cbr\u003eFormat: Paperback \/ softback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAkutagawa displays an insightful and keenly creative intelligence in prose so lucid its sophistication is hardly visible\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e.'  \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eChris Power, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Guardian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJapan's master storyteller Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) wrote more than 150 short stories. Widely regarded as 'the Father of the Japanese short story', he blended modern sensibilities with timeless themes to profound effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis new anthology offers the most comprehensive collection of Akutagawa's work ever published in English. It features fresh translations of his most celebrated stories alongside many lesser-known and never-before-translated pieces:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eRashomon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: A destitute servant in old Kyoto faces a moral dilemma  starve or steal to survive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Odd Tale\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: A young woman is haunted by strange encounters with a station porter while her husband fights in World War I\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eShadows\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: A merchant receives anonymous letters about his wife's infidelity  only to come face-to-face with his own double\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn a Grove\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: Multiple, conflicting accounts of a samurai's death-this story inspired Kurosawa's legendary film \u003ci\u003eRashomon\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHell Screen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: A chilling tale of artistic obsession and its devastating cost, adapted from an ancient legend\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eMomotaro\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e: In this first-ever English translation, Akutagawa transforms a beloved folk hero into a biting satire of nationalism and war\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlus 16 other major works by the Japanese master!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn essential volume for every serious reader of Japanese literature  and a captivating introduction to one of the world's great literary voices.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ships in 10 to 15 days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46875666874526,"sku":"ADS-9784805317990","price":29.78,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0400\/9043\/5742\/files\/9784805317990.jpg?v=1779755308","url":"https:\/\/classicbargains.com.au\/products\/9784805317990","provider":"Classic Bargains Australia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}