Rashomon and Seventeen Other Stories (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Wow great quality! The book is of black matte color with red and gold glossy print. It came in perfect condition.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa, one of Japan's great writers, demonstrates his creative genius in the variety and excellence of the short stories included in this anthology. "Rashomon" and "In a Bamboo Grove" were the basis for Kurosawa's famed movie. However, the subsequent stories are equally captivating in their ability to briefly communicate original themes. The ability to eloquently surprise the reader with each of the stories is a credit to his fame. Recommended to anyone who enjoys the short story genre. Akutagawa's novels "Botchan" and "Kokoro" are also highly praised and recommended.

The interpreted stories included in this collection reflect an intelligence that is well-read, perceptive and deeply aware of human foibles. Through the language of ancient Eastern folk tales, half of the short stories are entertaining and revealing. The author writes in the years of 1915 to 1925, in Japan, using Chinese and Japanese literary and cultural themes that not only educate the reader in Eastern literature, but also demonstrate that humanity is the same whether living in the East or West, no matter which century the author writes about and lived. The way people feel about the mysteries of their lives is the same whatever the setting. At the same time, the different, distinctly Eastern cultural prism through which our commonalities present themselves reflect a Japanese view that is a bit mystifying, and very interesting. Fortunately, this collection includes two very famous stories, Rashomon and In a Bamboo Grove which were combined into a famous Japanese movie, from which Hollywood has wisely and not so aptly attempted to imitate in several variations. Later stories included in the book, from 1925 to 1927 are more autobiographical or personal, and while revealing how similar that people feel about fear, stress, anxiety, and how we live within communal society, sadly, these stories show how the author is losing his equilibrium and peace of mind. It is difficult to parse out if it is the fear of going insane or if it is actual instability precipitating his emotional frailty.

Akutagawa is one of my favorites. I'd read the classics "In a Grove" and "Rashomon" but not many of the others. The later stories are remarkably modern feeling and quite poignant. A must read for anyone who loves the short story genre.

got this as a gift for a friend who loves akutagawa, she loved this

This is a classic of modern, pre-war Japanese literature. Creepy, twisted and beautifully spooky. Rashomon is the best known of the stories, but they are all well worth reading. And this edition has by far the coolest cover art of any edition.

Exactly the book we were looking for, ordered, arrived quickly and nicely printed copy!

For the most part I enjoyed the vast majority of the stories in the book. The only one that I didn't care much for was where the character became half horse due to a celestial screw up. I bought the book after watching a youtube video by Arkham Reporter. There is a balance of love, humor, and sadness in the book.

Book is in good condition on arrival.

Good sale

Akutagawa-san is a genius through and through. Rashomon and the Trial stories are most excellent, short but dense.

Let's get the cliché out first: Most everybody interested in this collection will know the title story by name as it is the framing device of Kurosawa's film of the same title. The bulk of that film's plot, OTOH, is from another story [In a grove], also contained in this very well selected collection. Jay Rubin is a well-known translator of Japanese, for good reason. He hits a well-balanced style relaying the original's intricacies where possible without sacrificing readability - remember that translation is probably more about the target language than the source. Sure, one should understand the culture of the source to get as many connotation as possible. In the end one wishes readers of the target language to learn by way of entertainment they get from the translation. Rubin bolsters understanding with erudite notes and short introductions for the period pieces. The Kindle edition I own is well typeset and formatted, its only downside being the introductions to the stories, which hide just before the notes for the same piece. Unfortunately the introductions do not have their own links. All in all a well thought out, entertaining story collection and introduction to the work and world of Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Highly recommended.

Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's collection of short stories show him to be a witty author with a cynical view of human nature and the absurdities of the human condition which recall the short works of Franz Kafka. Like Kafka, Akutagawa was plagued by self doubt and recrimination, which unfortunately grew to consume him. The section of the book titled "Akutagawa's Own Story" comprises of writings from towards the end of his life which are pseudo-autobiographical in nature and describe a man succumbing to despair, self-loathing and a growing conviction that he will die by his own hand - as was the case. This section makes for a harrowing read, and if you just want to enjoy the stories and be entertained by Akutagawa's wit and imagination I think it can safely be skipped. I assume most readers will arrive at this collection via Akira Kurosawa's film, and may be surprised when the story Rashomon has little in common with the film Rashomon besides the existence of a gate. This is because the film almost immediately jumps ship into another Akutagawa story, In A Bamboo Grove, which it then follows quite faithfully. It can be a bit of gamble diving into "the classics" as many do not translate well into another time period (let alone language or culture), but Akutagawa's writings - at least those selected here - transcend place and time to speak of something universal.