The Old Capital
The Old Capital is one of the three novels cited specifically by the Nobel Committee when they awarded Kawabata the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968. With the ethereal tone and aesthetic styling characteristic of Kawabata's prose, The Old Capital tells the story of Chieko, the adopted daughter...
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The Old Capital is one of the three novels cited specifically by the Nobel Committee when they awarded Kawabata the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968. With the ethereal tone and aesthetic styling characteristic of Kawabata's prose, The Old Capital tells the story of Chieko, the adopted daughter of a Kyoto kimono designer, Takichiro, and his wife, Shige.Set in the traditional city of Kyoto, Japan, this deeply poetic story revolves around Chieko who becomes bewildered and troubled as she discovers the true facets of her past. With the harmony and time-honored customs of a Japanese backdrop, the story becomes poignant as Chieko’s longing and confusion develops.
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Format: paperback
ISBN:
9781593760328 (1593760329)
ASIN: 1593760329
Publish date: January 10th 2006
Publisher: Counterpoint
Pages no: 160
Edition language: English
Category:
Classics,
Novels,
Literature,
Cultural,
Historical Fiction,
Literary Fiction,
Asian Literature,
Asia,
Japan,
Nobel Prize,
Japanese Literature
I read it but didn't see the point of it. I wonder if it might be the translation because the language was stilted and awkward at times. It also didn't flow as well as other translated works. While the premise was interesting, the development just seemed to spin its wheels. It's kind of like Tho...
The sting of the needle was lost in the delicate crimson stream. Not a wince or a slight whimper. The strange words bounced in my ears resembling songs of exasperated crickets. The harshness of the sun did not bother my skin anymore, neither the rain puddles that ruined my shoes. Not a drop of tear,...
I will tell you why I really liked this book, nothing more. It captures traditional Japanese culture wonderfully. Central to Japanese life and culture is the importance of beauty. I am referring to the value of weaving a beautiful cloth, the value of looking carefully at a tree or a leaf or a stone ...
Either the book is poorly written (though Mr. K. is a Nobel winner, for goodness' sake!), the elegant Kyoto dialect difficult to translate or I'm too shallow and unable to get why the Japanese are so keen on processions and festivals: cherry blossom, camphor blossom, maple blossom, tea harvest - all...
The Old Capital by Yasunari Kawabata4.5 stars, rounded to 5182 PagesChieko is the much loved daughter of a traditional shopkeeper in the old Japanese capital Kyoto. A foundling discovered on the steps of the shop, Chieko is raised in the old style, eschewing the modern changes brought with the Ameri...
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