Description
Legends of Old Tokyo
Book Summary
This work offers Spanish-speaking readers an exquisite selection of tales, stories, and legends from classical Japan, translated into Spanish for the first time. Compiled by the renowned Japanologist James S. de Benneville at the beginning of the 20th century, these texts have been a reference in the English-speaking world for decades. The reader will find a legendary Tokyo populated by samurai, ghosts, and heroes, in a collection of orally transmitted narratives that stand out for their heroism, picturesque quality, and a delicacy of touch that evokes the imagery of the master Hokusai.
What is it about?
The book brings together a careful selection of the compilations James S. de Benneville made regarding Japanese folklore and oral tradition. The stories transport the reader to the legendary Tokyo of yesteryear, a setting where the great deeds of samurai intermingle with ghostly apparitions and spiritual teachings. Each story is imbued with the classical Japanese aesthetic, combining epic heroism with fantasy and a profound sensitivity. It is a gateway to a world of oral tradition that has endured through the centuries, offering an authentic and evocative vision of classical Japan.
Main themes
- Feats and the code of honor of the samurai in classical Japan.
- Ghost stories and apparitions from traditional Japanese folklore.
- Oral transmission of Japanese culture and legends.
- Heroism, the picturesque, and fantasy as narrative axes.
- The classical Japanese aesthetic and its delicacy of touch.
Who is it recommended for?
It is aimed at readers interested in classical Japanese literature, folklore, and the oral traditions of Japan. It will also be attractive to those seeking fiction set in ancient Japan, featuring samurai, ghosts, and a marked spiritual component. It is an ideal work both for fans of Japanese culture and for those who wish to discover for the first time the legendary tales that have fascinated generations in the English-speaking world.
What this book provides
- Access for the first time in Spanish to a selection of classic Japanese legends of great international prestige.
- An immersion into legendary Tokyo, with stories of samurai, ghosts, and heroism that reveal the essence of classical Japan.
- A literary experience that combines fantasy, the picturesque, and the aesthetic delicacy characteristic of the Japanese tradition.
- The opportunity to learn about the work of James S. de Benneville, a benchmark of Japanology in the English-speaking sphere.
Technical specifications
- Author: de Benneville, James S.
- Publisher: ERASMUS EDICIONES
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Classical texts, Modern and contemporary fiction, Classic fiction, Religious and spiritual fiction, Mind, body and spirit
- Collection: CLASICOS EN EL PRESENTE
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2013
- Number of pages: 250
- Weight: 400 g
Editorial review
This edition represents a valuable opportunity for the Spanish-speaking reader to access a classic of Japanese literature that has been a reference in the English-speaking world. The selection of stories, carefully translated, offers an authentic and evocative vision of legendary Japan, combining historical and folkloric interest with a narrative of great beauty. It is a work that satisfies both those knowledgeable about Japanese culture and those approaching its oral traditions for the first time.