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The Siren's Lament

Essential Stories
By Junichiro Tanizaki
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Brief Description
The sage Confucius visits a cultured duke, whose pursuit of virtue is threatened by the desires of his dazzling, malicious consort. A naïve servant elopes with his master's daughter, only to be plunged headlong into a world of murder and corruption. Exhausted by a lifestyle of... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2799
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A new selection and translation of short stories by a hugely prominent classic Japanese writer, filled with eroticism and fantasy

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The sage Confucius visits a cultured duke, whose pursuit of virtue is threatened by the desires of his dazzling, malicious consort. A naïve servant elopes with his master's daughter, only to be plunged headlong into a world of murder and corruption. Exhausted by a lifestyle of never-ending debauchery, a young prince finds himself obsessed with a sorrowful, beguiling mermaid.

These three stories, in a gorgeous new translation by Bryan Karetnyk, distil the essence of Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's shorter fiction: the commingling of Japanese and Chinese mythologies, the dark side of desire and the paper-thin line between the sublime and the depraved.

Immerse yourself in the world of The Siren's Lament, where ancient tales unravel in a unique blend of intrigue and insight.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781805332220

Publisher: Pushkin Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 31 July 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Pushkin Press Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 192

Collections

Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Jun'ichiro Tanizaki Literary Fiction

About the Author

Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (1886-1965) is widely considered one of Japan's most important writers. Born in Tokyo to a family of printers, he began his literary career in 1909 and published numerous plays, essays, novels and short stories. His writing is characterised by ironic wit, subtle interpersonal dynamics and charged depictions of sexuality and cultural identity. The Tanizaki Prize, one of Japan's most prestigious awards, is named in his honour.

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