Steven Carter (5)

From the ancient "songs" of the manyoushuu, to 20c modern poems, it is all there except for the obscene senryu (which no one has translated to date!). Carter does not explain how he selects what he selects but i think he does a good job of picking up on those that push the envelope on new trope or provide the best example of a certain metaphor. His introductions for the poets of each period are fine, but some poems could use a bit more explanation imho (but he, doubtless thinks my books show more explain too much). The translations are good, sometimes brilliant and sometimes hurt by trying too hard to get five or seven syllables rather than paying attention to beat, alone. That is a problem endemic to the McCullough school. If you were to buy one book on Japanese poetry, this would be it. show less