Historical Dictionary of Modern Japanese Literature and Theater

Beginning with the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the combination of the rich storytelling tradition of Japan with the realism and modernism of the West produced some of the greatest literature of the modern age. In a departure from the other titles in the series, this reference weaves the nation's political history with the history of its literature and theater, with discussions of the impact of warfare, religion, the atomic bomb, and democracy on the country's literature, as well as cross-referenced entries on notable writers, important works, recurrent themes, genres, literary journals, and awards. Literature is defined broadly to include novels and short stories, poetry, and theater, as well as adaptation and translation, and the oral tradition of professional storytelling. A chronology from 1868 to the present is included, along with a b&w map and a few poor-quality b&w photos of authors. Miller teaches Japanese and comparative literature at Brigham Young University. Annotation c2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

J. Scott Miller is professor of Japanese and comparative literature at Brigham Young University. In addition to teaching a variety of courses exploring Japanese culture he publishes books, articles, and translations of Japanese fiction.