The Pillow Book - Sei Shōnagon - Dover Thrift Editions

The Pillow Book by Sei Shōnagon, translated by Arthur Waley, presents an abridged English edition of a celebrated Japanese journal. This paperback forms part of the Dover Thrift Editions series and is reprinted from Waley’s 1928 edition.

Key details

• Authors: Sei Shōnagon and Arthur Waley
• Series: Dover Thrift Editions
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 80
• Publisher: Dover Publications Inc
• ISBN: 9780486834436

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of tenth-century Japan, this diary by a young court lady evokes a world that was, at the time, physically and culturally removed from the rest of the world. Rather than offering a fictionalised court portrait, the journal gathers anecdotes, observations and gossip, designed to be enjoyed in vivid fragments.

First translated into English in 1889, the text was later reworked by Arthur Waley, whose 1928 abridgement aims to recreate the prose’s stylistic beauty and narrative energy. His version offers a focused view of courtly artistic pursuits and the continual rhythm of rituals, festivals and ceremonies, making it a distinctive work of literature and fiction.

Rackhams Reference : 5KSWJ1H4QW