Description

“A writer of wicked subtlety and grace.” -The Sunday Times (London)

The eight stories in this dazzling collection-including three that appear here in English for the first time-showcase the sunning breadth of Junichiro Tanizaki’s literary mastery.

Award-winning translators Anthony Chambers, Paul McCarthy and J. Keith Vincent bring their consummate skill and knowledge of Tanizaki to the volume. Together, the stories reflect the author’s lifelong fascination with the darkest passions of humankind and the full range of possibility in the Japanese language.

Included in this volume are:

The Tattoo: A sadomasochistic tattoo artist inscribes a spider on the object of his obsession, awakening her own sadistic impulses
From the Life of Shunkin: A beautiful blind musician is mysteriously attacked, and her lover commits an unthinkable act
An Account of Cruelty: A couple struggles with the intimate aftermath of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
Plus five other iconic Tanizaki tales

Publisher Review

“Reintroduces the revered Japanese writer Tanizaki (1886-1965) to a new generation with eight stellar stories […] Chambers’ don’t-miss introduction includes a fascinating explanation of the new translations of “The Tattoo” and “From the Life of Shunkin.” Chambers credits Vincent with “restor[ing] Tanizaki’s sentences as he wrote them” in the hope that today’s English-language readers are “more accustomed to such experimentation.” Intentionally renewed, “Tanizaki’s modernist prose” awaits savvy audiences.” -Booklist