Includes bibliographical references (p. 421-422) and index.
Contents:
Early poems 1662-74 -- Bashō the professional poet 1675-79 -- A retreat to nature: a religious life 1680-83 -- Bashō's journeys in the way of the poet 1684-88 -- Bashō's journey to the interior 1689 -- At the peak and still traveling 1690-91 -- Bashō finds the secret of greatness in poetry and life 1692-94 -- Notes: commentary, literal translations, Romanized versions, and original Japanese -- App. 1. Haiku techniques -- App. 2. Selected chronology of the life of Matsuo Bashō.
Summary:
"Matsuo Basho stands today as Japan's most renowned writer, and one of the most revered. Yet despite his stature, Basho's complete haiku have never been collected under one cover. Until now. To render the writer's full body of work in English, Jane Reichhold, an American haiku poet and translator, dedicated over ten years to the present compilation. In Barbo: The Complete Haiku she accomplishes the feat with distinction. Dividing the poet's creative output into seven periods of development, Reichhold frames each period with a decisive biographical sketch of the poet's travels, creative influences, and personal triumphs and defeats. Supplementary material includes two hundred pages of scrupulously researched notes, which also contain a literal translation of the poem, the original Japanese, and a Romanized reading. A glossary, chronology, index of first lines, and explanation of Basho's haiku techniques provide additional background information. Finally in the spirit of Basho,elegant semi-e ink drawings by well-known Japanese artist Shiro Tsujimura front each chapter."
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.