Description
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom
Book Summary
This edition brings together three short stories by the Japanese master Ango Sakaguchi, where beauty and violence intertwine in a dark and hypnotic dance. The main story follows a ruthless thief who, after being captivated by the beauty of a mysterious woman, triggers a spiral of death and madness. Accompanying this tale are "Princess Yonaga and Mimio" and "The Great Counselor Murakami," two pieces featuring femme fatales that explore the perversion of desire. An essential work for lovers of Japanese horror literature and the most disturbing contemporary fiction.
What is it about?
In the Forest, Under Cherries in Full Bloom immerses us in feudal Japan through the eyes of a bandit who terrorizes the Suzuka Pass. His life changes when he encounters a woman of such staggering beauty that he decides to abduct her and make her his wife. Blinded by obsession, the thief goes to great lengths to please her with riches, even agreeing to move to the capital. But the woman's insatiable craving drags him into a maelstrom of crime and dementia that will only find an inevitable outcome. The two additional stories, "Princess Yonaga and Mimio" and "The Great Counselor Murakami," delve into this same theme: beauty turned into perversion and desire as a driving force for violence.
Main Themes
- The duality between beauty and violence as destructive forces.
- Romantic obsession and submission to the desires of others.
- The figure of the femme fatale in classical and modern Japanese literature.
- Madness as a consequence of excessive passion.
- The transgression of moral boundaries in a feudal historical context.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers interested in post-war Japanese literature, especially those who seek dark and psychological narratives. It is ideal for those who enjoy horror and ghost stories with a sophisticated literary approach, as well as fans of authors like Ryunosuke Akutagawa or Junichiro Tanizaki. It will also be attractive to those exploring modern and contemporary fiction with tinges of folklore and tradition.
What this book offers
- A unique look at the work of Ango Sakaguchi, a key figure in 20th-century Japanese literature, rarely translated into Spanish.
- Three stories that explore human psychology at its darkest extremes, combining horror, eroticism, and poetic violence.
- An edition that contextualizes the myth of the femme fatale within the Japanese literary tradition, offering a dense and evocative reading experience.
- The opportunity to delve into a narrative that challenges moral conventions, ideal for readers who seek disturbing and memorable stories.
Technical Sheet
- Author: Sakaguchi, Ango
- Publisher: SATORI EDICIONES
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY FICTION, HORROR AND GHOST STORIES
- Collection: FICTION
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2013
- Number of pages: 160
- Weight: 253 g
Editorial Assessment
This anthology by Ango Sakaguchi represents a gateway to a fundamental author of the Japanese literary scene, whose work defies genre labels. The selection of stories offers a remarkable thematic coherence, exploring the fragility of human morality in the face of desire and beauty. The Satori Ediciones paperback edition facilitates access to a dense and visual narrative that combines the rawness of psychological horror with the subtlety of classical Japanese prose. A title recommended for those seeking a brief but intense read that remains in the reader's memory long after closing the book.