Modern Japanese Writers

Published by Charles Scribner's Sons

This is the first encyclopedia in the Scribner Writers Series to focus on Asian writers and genres. It highlights 25 of the most widely translated Japanese authors, such as Yukio Mishima, Kobo Abe, Junichiro Tanizaki and Fumiko Enchi.

Review:

"The 'first foray into Japanese literature' by 'The Scribner Writers Series' follows the format of their other useful contributions to the study of world literature. It offers separate essays for 23 individual writers... [as well as] the essay 'Atomic Bomb Writers' recognizes the works created from their unique perspective. Each essay provides biographical information but concentrates on cultural and literary contexts, both national and beyond. Of particular reference value are the excellent bibliographies of primary and secondary works (Japanese and English)...No selection of major authors will please everyone, but this compilation is very respectable, and the presentation is solid. Highly recommended for Japanese studies and comparative literature collections."
-- CHOICE (June 2001)

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