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The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon : The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon : The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan - Thryft
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon : The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan - Thryft

Elegant glimpse into tenth century Japan's aristocracy.

The book is a good read for those who want a lyrical, poetic, and insightful glimpse into Japan's ancient royal court culture. The author, Sei Shonagon, brings out the subtle nuances of the aristocracy's daily life and provides an exquisite view of the inner workings of the royal court, culture, and traditions. Arthur Waley's beautiful translation ensures that the reader is transported back in time to experience a world of isolated innocence and beauty.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon : The Diary of a Courtesan in Tenth Century Japan

Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

Find out more about our process here.

ISBN: 9784805311080

Description

Japan in the 10th century stood physically and culturally isolated from the rest of the world. Inside this bubble, a subtle and beautiful world was in operation, and its inhabitants were tied to the moment, having no interest in the future and disdain for the past.

The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon was a product of a tenth-century courtier's experiences in the palace of Empress Teishi. A common custom of the time period, courtiers used to keep notes or a diary in a wooden pillow with a drawer. This "pillow book" reflects the confident aesthetic judgments of Shonagon and her ability to create prose that crossed into the realm of the poetic. The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon is one of the earliest examples of diary literature whose passages chronicle the events of the court calendar, the ceremonies and celebrations specific to Teishi's court, and the vignettes that provide brilliantly drawn glimpses into the manners and foibles of the aristocracy.

A contemporary of Murasaki Shikibu, the author of The Tale of Genji, this small diary brings an added dimension to Murasaki's timeless and seminal work.

Arthur Waley's elegant translation of The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon captures the beauty of its prose and the vitality of Shonagon's narrative voice, as well as her quirky personality traits. In a place and time where poetry was as important as knowledge and beauty was highly revered, Sei Shonagon's private writings give the reader a charming and intimate glimpse into a time of isolated innocence and pale beauty.


Author: Arthur Waley
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 144
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
Publication Date: 10 Mar 2011
 

Elegant glimpse into tenth century Japan's aristocracy.

The book is a good read for those who want a lyrical, poetic, and insightful glimpse into Japan's ancient royal court culture. The author, Sei Shonagon, brings out the subtle nuances of the aristocracy's daily life and provides an exquisite view of the inner workings of the royal court, culture, and traditions. Arthur Waley's beautiful translation ensures that the reader is transported back in time to experience a world of isolated innocence and beauty.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

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