Author Description

"Newly added to the original edition's twenty classical and thirty modern works are several new chapters. "After Oe," which covers younger contemporary writers coming after the 1994 Nobel Prize winner Kenzaburo Oe, includes such writers as Haruki Murakami, Ryu Murakami, and Banana Yoshimoto. "Some New Translations" presents translations of both classic and postwar works and writers who were discussed in the first edition but who are now represented by additional translations. "Another Classical Master: Buson" is a short chapter devoted to a newly translated volume of poetry by the haiku master Buson. "More Modern Masters" cites recently published translations of postwar writers who were not represented in the first edition because translations of their works were not yet available. "The Art of the Essay" comments on the few examples of this important genre that now exist in English translation. The guide ends with a substantial list of further readings for those who would like to pursue their studies in greater depth."--BOOK JACKET.