The Ball and Other Writings

At a glittering Tokyo ball, a young woman meets a French naval officer whose words will remain with her long after the music fades. The Ball joins dazzling observation to a delicate meditation on memory, beauty, and the brevity of life.

The Ball and Other Writings gathers seven complete works by Akutagawa Ryūnosuke. In Aged Susanoo, a legendary father’s jealousy leads to terrifying trials for his daughter’s lover. Old Age follows a retired performer whose memories awaken during an evening of music.

Four essays reveal another side of the author. Difficulties of Marriage and Love turns the search for a perfect husband into a fanciful satire. Literary, All Too Literary: Continued and Notes on Bashō: Continued explore artistic inheritance, temperament, and reputation. The Man of the West: Continued offers a provocative portrait of Christ through the language of genius and journalism.