Japanese No Dramas (Penguin Classics)
by Various
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Book Summary Information
Author: VariousTranslator: Royall Tyler
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1993-06-01
ISBN: 0140445390
Number of pages: 384
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Book Reviews of Japanese No Dramas (Penguin Classics)
Book Review: Profound yet accessible
Summary: 5 Stars
As previous reviewers have observed, Royall Tyler's scholarship is always top-notch, and his efforts in "Japanese No Dramas" are no exception. Yet equally impressive in this volume is the translator's ability to so richly present the depth of the No theater in clear, concise introductory essays that preface each play while locating them within a broader historical and literary context. This feature makes the text perfect for casual readers and devoted students alike. Tyler's general introduction to the No provides a solid theoretical background for complete beginners, explaining the foundations of the art, its prevalent symbolism and themes, and text- and performance-related terminology, while the aforementioned play-specific introductions offer perceptive critical analyses that follow and expand upon current Japanese No scholarship. Also worth mentioning in this respect are the footnotes. As readers of Tyler's "The Tale of Genji" translation will recall, the author supplies a great deal of explanatory notes to the text, both clarifying less-than-obvious intended meanings and pointing out references to other works. Since intertextuality forms such a vital aspect of classical Japanese literature, Tyler's decision to document each allusion proves invaluable for readers who are familiar with Japanese canonical texts or who seek to better appreciate the literary resonance of certain recurrent images and phrases. Furthermore, considering that a few of the No plays featured in this collection are nearly impossible to understand without basic knowledge of their social, religious, or historical background, readers will find themselves most grateful for Tyler's eminently helpful (yet never intrusive) explanations.
Of course, as impressive as the scholarship is here, it would mean little if the translations of the selected plays were substandard. Thankfully this is by no means the case. Tyler's renderings of each work compare favorably with the various other translations I've stumbled across, and the language he has chosen is simple yet elegant--doubtless an apt reflection of the No theater itself. As Tyler explains, although No is essentially a performance art and as such must be experienced live to be fully grasped, this certainly does not deprive the texts of their literary value. The poetry of "Matsukaze" alone is enough to convince one of this fact, and several other plays are equally lyrical and profound in their expression.
On a personal note, I have never been fortunate enough to attend an actual performance (which are rather difficult to find outside Japan), and my interest in the No is a product of reading volumes such as this; and yet, in spite of such apparent limitations, I can claim that multiple No plays rank among the greatest literature I have ever studied. Surely Royall Tyler's fine translations and careful attention to detail are in large part responsible for this occurrence. Five stars without hesitation.
Summary of Japanese No Dramas (Penguin Classics)
Japanese no theatre or the drama of perfected art' flourished in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries largely through the genius of the dramatist Zeami. An intricate fusion of music, dance, mask, costume and language, the dramas address many subjects, but the idea of form' is more central than meaning' and their structure is always ritualized. Selected for their literary merit, the twenty-four plays in this volume dramatize such ideas as the relationship between men and the gods, brother and sister, parent and child, lover and beloved, and the power of greed and desire. Revered in Japan as a cultural treasure, the spiritual and sensuous beauty of these works has been a profound influence for English-speaking artists including W. B. Yeats, Ezra Pound and Benjamin Britten.Anthologies Books
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