Description
Book SynopsisYukio Mishima was born into a samurai family and imbued with the code of complete control over mind and body, and loyalty to the Emperor - the same code that produced the austerity and self-sacrifice of Zen. He wrote countless stories and thirty-three plays, in some of which he performed. Several films have been made from his novels, including
The Sound of Waves,
Enjo which was based on
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion and
The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea. Among his other works are the novels
Confessions of a Mask and
Thirst for Love and the short story collections
Death in Midsummer and
Acts of Worship.
The Sea of Fertility tetralogy, however, is his masterpiece. After Mishima conceived the idea of
The Sea of Fertility in 1964, he frequently said he would die when it was completed. On 25 November 1970, the day he completed
The Decay of the Angel, the last novel of the cycle, Mishima committed sepp
Trade ReviewA dark vision...a beautiful, disturbing novel * Los Angeles Times *
Mishima writes with a fury that seldom flags * Glasgow Herald *
Glitters with images of beauty and destruction, cruelty and sacrifice, dedication and betrayal * The Times *
An amazing literary feat * Chicago Tribune *
I adore Mishima's prose and vivid descriptions. They pull me out of my daily reality -- Amanda Harlech * Harpers Bazaar *
