Author(s): Anthony H. Chambers

Fiction

Tanizaki Jun'ichir? (1886-1965), the author of Naomi; A Cat, a Man, andTwo Women; and The Makioka Sisters, was one of the great writers ofthe twentieth century. The four stories in this volume date from the firstand second decades of Tanizaki's long career and reflect themes thatappear throughout his work: exoticism, sexuality, sadomasochism,contrasts between traditional and modern societies, disparities betweenappearance and reality, the power of dreams, amorality, an interestin cinema, and a fascination with the techniques of storytelling. Thestories-translated into English here for the first time-are: "The StrangeCase of Tomoda and Matsunaga" ("Tomoda to Matsunaga no hanashi,"1926), "A Night in Qinhuai" ("Shinwai no yo," 1919), "The Magician"("Majutsushi," 1917), and "Red Roofs" ("Akai yane," 1925).