Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Heike Story: A Modern Translation of the Classic Tale of Love and War by Eiji Yoshikawa, Fuki Wooyenaka Uramatsu, Kenkichi Sugimoto, Kenichi Sugimoto ISBN: 0-8048-3318-4 Publisher: Charles E Tuttle Co Pub. Date: August, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.83 (6 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Another Classic Yoshikawa
Comment: This is another great book by Yoshikawa and would recommend to any readers interested in Japanese history and warfare.
Some readers may not like the translation. Many words have been translated into their actual meanings, e.g. "sushi" to "rice ball"; "sake" to "wine"; "geisha" to "dancing girls" etc., instead of throwing in well known Japanese terms. But I don't find this a problem, the translator was being consistent all the way.
The translation is, however, weak in the explanation of titles and posts, e.g. "General of the Imperial Guards" = "Shogun?"; "Minister of the Left"; "Councilor". If the tranlation had included an appendix for the titles and posts, it will surely make the book a more enjoyable read.
Notwithstanding, I don't think readers will require much knowledge regarding Japanese culture and history to enjoy this book.
Hope to see more books by Yoshikawa translated into English. Will be nice to have "Yoritomo of the Genji" translated into English too, it being a companion book for "The Heike Story" and continues the story to the creation of the Kamakura Shogunate.
Rating: 4
Summary: GREAT story, bad translation
Comment: First, I'll say that this book is fantastic. The plot and storyline fascinating. Yoshikawa is a great storyteller. However, I deplore the translation. In the copy of the book that I found, entire chapters were taken out of the book to supposedly accomodate someone unfamiliar with japanese language, culture, history, and geography. I was disgusted by the fact that this classic novel was butchered so bad. As a previous review explains, sushi is renamed "rice balls" and sake is renamed "wine". I've never been to japan, but i can speak it a bit, and through reading alot of japanese novels I have come to have a very good understanding of its geography and history. Had they left everything in, an ignorant reader could have just not paid attention to geography, historical significance, etc. But instead, someone who loves and admires japan and wishes to receive the fullest experience like me feels robbed.
Rating: 3
Summary: A great story with an out-of-date translation
Comment: Like others reviewing this novel, I've significant experience in Japan. And, like other Yoshikawa novels it is a wonderful mechanism for looking back on the Japan of legend. As with any good historical fiction, the historic details and culture are correct and well presented.
My argument is with the translation. If we are referring to the same translation (published by Kodansha many years ago, I believe) it is a problem of the translator glossing over matters which he feels may be beyond the comprehension or the interest of the reader. Sushi is referred to as 'rice balls', sake becomes 'wine', etc. One feels that many details are missing. Partially, I suspect, it was a product of its times, when interest in Japanese culture was not so great.
I'd love to read a modern translation, say by the translator of Yoshikwa's 'Musashi'.
Regardless, it is a good read and is a window back into a unique and compelling culture.
 |
Title: Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan by Eiji Yoshikawa, William Scott Wilson ISBN: 4770026099 Publisher: Kodansha International Pub. Date: January, 2001 List Price(USD): $32.00 |
 |
Title: Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, Charles S. Terry ISBN: 4770019572 Publisher: Kodansha International Pub. Date: May, 1995 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
 |
Title: Forty-Seven Ronin Story by John Allyn ISBN: 0804801967 Publisher: Charles E Tuttle Co Pub. Date: October, 1970 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
 |
Title: The Last Shogun: The Life of Tokugawa Yoshinobu by Ryotaro Shiba, Juliet Winters Carpenter ISBN: 1568362463 Publisher: Kodansha International Pub. Date: May, 1998 List Price(USD): $25.00 |
 |
Title: Vagabond, Volume 1 by Takehiko Inoue, Eiji Yoshikawa ISBN: 1591160340 Publisher: Viz Communications Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
