About this title: Kawabata's The Old Capital mentioned in the citation accompanying his 1968 Nobel Prize for Literature, is now available in a quality paperback edition of Martin Holman's well-received translation.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Description: Good. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Trade Paperback
Publisher: North Point Pr, San Francisco
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780865474116ISBN:0865474117
Description: Good. 0865474117 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall The covers have light edge wear and are lightly rubbed. There is a book plate on the FFE with the name scribbled out. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle Company
Date Published: 1989
ISBN-13:9780804815574ISBN:0804815577
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. ~clean text, tight binding, light to moderate wear to exterior, Support Pacific Northwest Independent Booksellers! 164 p. read more
Edition: First Printing Thus
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: North Point Press, San Francisco, CA
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780865474116ISBN:0865474117
Description: Very Good. 8" x 5" Translated and with a note by, J. Martin Holman. Minimal wear. Clean, unmarked copy. vi + 164 pp. read more
Description: Fine. 0865474117 North Point Press trade paperback, 1987, immaculate/unmarked, spine tight/square/uncreased, only slight cover wear...Near Fine (like new). read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Shoemaker & Hoard
Date Published: 2006-02-09
ISBN-13:9781593760328ISBN:1593760329
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9781593760328. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Shoemaker & Hoard
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781593760328ISBN:1593760329
Description: New. Brand New! Buy with confidence-your satisfaction is guaranteed at B-Logistics! Due to the large scale of our operation, we do not have access to the specific contents/condition of our items. Please note that Expedited shipping is not available at this time. read more
Description: Good. Light shelving wear with minimal damage to cover and bindings. Pages show minor use. Help save a tree. Buy all your used books from Green Earth Books. Read. Recycle and Reuse! read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: North Point Press, San Francisco
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780865474116ISBN:0865474117
Description: Very Good. Octavo; 164pp; Softcover, excellent cond, no markings, no spine creases, light rubbing to panels, o/w clean tight very nice copy. read more
Edition: Reprint
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Pgw
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9781593760328ISBN:1593760329
Description: New. Kawabata's The Old Capital mentioned in the citation accompanying his 1968 Nobel Prize for Literature, is now available in a quality paperback edition of Martin Holman's well-received translation. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: North Point Pr
Date Published: 1989-11
ISBN-13:9780865474116ISBN:0865474117
Description: Good. Excellent customer service. May ship from alternate location depending on your zip code and availability. Satisfaction guaranteed! ! read more
"It's easy to see why the cherry blossom is regarded as an inimitable symbol of springtime in Japan. Blooming for only a week or two each year, this muse of the vernal season not only graces the Japanese landscape with enchanting elegance but also emanates a subtle, gentle charm that's evocative of the country's own aesthetic sensibility. As no poem can ever be as lovely as a tree, no verse can ever be enough to express in words the full beauty of the Sakura's flowers. In The Old Capital, Nobel-laureate Yasunari Kawabata weaves a story about a Kimono designer's daughter whose endearing qualities is no less than that of the white cherry blossoms that fill the air with a pervasive sense of purity, modesty, and delicate beauty. The first chapter, "The Flowers of Spring", evokes a floating feeling quite similar to being young at heart. And true enough, even before the end of this short chapter, I found myself falling in love with the beautiful young woman as she takes delight at the countless blossoms which couldn't have surpassed her own loveliness. Reading each of her lines made me feel like I was really there before her, listening to her "pure voice with a beautiful note of strength that rang in its depths." Also like the cherry blossoms, however, the sight of her is not without a note of sadness. Obedient and caring, Chieko is the pampered daughter of Shige and Takichiro, a middle-class couple who's told her since her youth that they'd kidnapped her while only a newborn because their hearts were pierced by her flowerlike smile. But as the seasons change, she grows ever more convinced that she was actually a foundling-an "abandoned child" left at the doorsteps of her adoptive parents. Soon, the peaceful life she has come to cherish collides with a world she has not known, leaving her confused like the old capital where ancient traditions appear ever in threat from the changes embraced by the emerging modern society. Kawabata's writing is said to be "suggestive of a Zen brush-and-ink painting where what is omitted is as important as what is included." Publisher's Weekly couldn't have been more accurate in such description. In this subdued narrative, characters are often lost deep in thought-a mood that constantly reflects the peaceful yet elusive tone of the story. Dialogues quickly turn into monologues when after one character speaks, the other would simply be described as "silent" or "saying nothing." But in silence, Kawabata's brilliance only becomes more evident as those brief moments of pause intensify the feelings brought forth by the statements that precede them. With few words, he is able to express the intense physical and emotional states that his characters go through, making a short scene feel like an actual experience. But the book's polite yet spirited characters are not the only captivating elements of the story. In between affectionate dialogues, Kawabata slips in nearly-ethereal word-paintings of the characters' surroundings, as if carefully taking note of the atmosphere that bears witness to the tale. The summer sky, the winter snow, the towering cedars and fallen petals, gardens and shrines, prayers and processions, festivals, geishas, maikos, vendors, locals and foreigners-they're all part of the painted picture where beauty often meets with sadness. It's a tour of post-war Japan that offers a close look at its people, its places, and its practices at a time when the country's identity is at a turning point. The Old Capital is truly a story of "inexpressible warmth," a novel of such exquisite quality that it was called Kawabata's "most outstanding" work at the time of his Nobel Prize citation."
"Note: Must look more into this author. Apparently, Holman's translation is supposed to be very true to the original. As with all translations though, I can't help but wonder if there was something more lost. I have a basic knowledge of Japanese history and have read other historical fiction about Japan however I was left wondering if I should know more to fully comprehend the author's motives. This is the first novel I have read by Kawabata. While I was drawn to the very straightforward storytelling, at times, I was also repelled by it. I kept thinking that something was missing, some action or explanation. And the ending... Those who have read the book will know what I mean by dot-dot-dot. Any one have any insights into this? I plan to check up on it."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
rating
