Ivan Morris was a British author and teacher dedicated to Japanese Studies. His extensive work delved into both modern and ancient Japan, encompassing original essays and translations of classical and contemporary literary works. As one of the first interpreters sent to Hiroshima following the atomic bombing, Morris was profoundly shaped in his understanding of Japanese culture and history. His writings offer insightful perspectives on Japanese society and its literature.
Modern Japanese Short Stories is a remarkable collection of Japanese stories from the pioneers of contemporary Japanese literature. This volume's twenty- five stories by as many authors display a wide range of style and subject matter offering a revealing picture of modern Japanese culture and society.
The latest in the series of classic crime novels from the vaults of HarperCollins for the detective connoisseur is the only novel by the Welsh writer R.A.V. Morris.
Ivan Morris’s definitive and widely acclaimed portrait of the ceremonious and melancholy world of ancient Japan. Using The Tale of Genji and other major literary works from Japan’s Heian period as a frame of reference, The World of the Shining Prince recreates an era when women set the cultural tone. Focusing on the world of the emperor’s court—a world deeply admired by Virginia Woolf, among others—renowned scholar of Japanese history and literature Ivan Morris explores the politics, society, religious life, and superstitions of the period. Offering readers detailed portrayals of the daily lives of courtiers, the cult of beauty they espoused, and the intricate relations between the men and women of the age, The World of the Shining Prince has been a cornerstone text on ancient Japan for half a century.
Long recognized as a core book in any study of Japanese culture and literature, The Nobility of Failure examines the lives and deaths of nine historical individuals who faced overwhelming odds, and, realizing they were doomed, accepted their fate--to be killed in battle or by execution, to wither in exile, or to escape through ritual suicide. Morris then turns his attention to the kamikaze pilots of World War II, who gave their lives in defense of their nation in the full realization that their deaths would have little effect on the course of the war. Through detail, crystal-clear prose and unmatched narrative sweep and brilliance, Professor Morris takes you into the innermost hearts of the Japanese people.