The Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets Paperback – Illustrated, January 17, 1991

This book of ancient poetry by some of Japan's most famous and talented female poets of old takes the reader in, not only to the poetry, but to subtleties of the poems as they were originally written in the Japanese language.We learn of the culture, history, fashions and social life of royal women of Japan during the Golden Age of women poets, the material being derived from some of the earliest and most famous work in imperial anthologies. A fascinating book illustrated by wood-cut prints depicting the artists' renditions of what the poets looked like and wore. I highly recommend this book to any serious student of tanka, as well as to anyone who want to learn more about the origins of Japanese tanka and the culture that gave it birth.

Andrew Pekarik's "The Thirty-Six Immortal Women Poets" is an exceptionally beautiful and useful publication that celebrates in art and text the work of top women poets who worked from the ninth through thirteenth centuries in Heian-period and Kamakura-period Japan. Organized to be read from two directions, the book first provides an introduction, selected readings, and background notes for a Japanese illustrated poetry manuscript owned by the New York Public Library. Turned over and read from what westerners would consider the back cover, the book then provides biographical information for each of the poetesses, a romanized Japanese version of the poet's verse, an English translation, analysis of the verse, and a two-page woodblock graphic that depicts the poetess and her verse in calligraphy.The poetry in question is of the 31-syllable variety that the Japanese call "waka" (Japanese verse) or "tanka" (short verse) to distinguish it from the longer poetry style first imported from China. The 36 women poets celebrated in this book did not exist as a group per se, but nearly all would have experienced life in the cloistered imperial court. Sending poetry to one's lovers was an expected follow-up to romantic encounters, and the ladies' status in society would have been judged largely on the refinement of their missives.

Really good book

Though it's an annotated translation of an Edo-period album, this book also makes a great introduction to the workings of Heian-era poetry. For each poem presented, the notes clearly and thoroughly explain the wordplays, associations and allusions it draws on.Very well organized, and yes, the pictures are lovely.

Wonderful book. This is a replacement for one I bought many years ago - lent to someone who never returned it. Obviously, they loved it too!