Basho's Narrow Road: Spring and Autumn Passages (Rock Spring Collection of Japanese Literature)

For anyone interested in Japanese poetry, and its history, this is a fascinating book. It is a translation of the significant historical book of travel throughout Japan in 1689 written by the famous Japanese poet Basho. What makes this book so enjoyable is the added scholarship by the translating author who has added not just the translation of Basho's book, but research and notes explaining the context of each of the poems and the places where Basho traveled. My only criticism is the way the added notes have been organized separately, away from the pertinent poems. Had the notes and explanatory material been put on facing pages, for example, it would have made reading the book much more friendly and easier to negotiate, and that would have earned 5 big stars.

I have multiple copies of Basho's Haibun "Narrow Road...". This translation has an ease and immediacy that keeps the non-scholar reading. The tone of this translation captures an outside/inside space with what feels to me like the perfect distance between them. Basho's subtle humor comes through both in the text and the poems.The endnotes/footnotes appear on the facing page of text and are easy to get at for those of us who will often skip them if they're placed at the back or in microscopic print at the bottom of the page. I've dipped in and out of them. They're lively and informative (history, legend etc); and include additional haiku and tanka.

Truly a wonderful translation of a Japanese classic. I found the copious footnotes and endnotes distracting, rather than enhancing my reading experience. However, this was a lovely and educational read.

I love the book, which I often take with me on vacation trips. It has gone to the beach, to Indiana, to France, and now to Utah.It is a thoughtful, meditative poetic book.All that said, reading it on the Kindle requires special patience. There are many references to check and that means lots of navigation.

When I bought this book by Basho, I thought I was buying a book of haiku. When I buy haiku books, I want only haiku--nothing else--no talking about haiku, no talking about the haiku author, no analysis or comparisons. This book has very little haiku in it, but a lot of talking about haiku. If you are mainly interested in buying this book for haiku, don't do it.

I was a weary that a used book would be very worn, but it came like new (literally, I don't think it's ever been opened)! And it came a day before it was supposed to, which made my life easier (twas a book for class)!

great read

Basho is an 18th century Japanese poet who was a leader in the art of Haibun - or Haiku prose. In this book he describes a pilgrimage he made across Japan, visiting sites associated with earlier poets along the way. The translation is clear and beautiful. I found the introduction and notes to be extremely helpful in understanding and appreciating the work, even though I had almost no background in Japanese poetry prior to this. Definitely recommended.

Little to add to others who have reviewed this book already, just to say an essential book for anyone who has an interest in Basho, his poetry and travel writings. I bought this as a used book but it came almost as a new copy, so very pleased with purchase.