Royall Tyler Livres

The memoir captures the life of Hino Nako during the turbulent 14th century in Japan, detailing her experiences in court service, a brief marriage, and her devotion to her son. It reflects her spiritual journey through pilgrimages and Zen practice, emphasizing her efforts to maintain her family's honor amidst chaos. Notably, while she omits the traumatic death of her husband, the translation includes the historical account of this event. Her expressions of faith and admiration for the beauty of Kitayama stand out as remarkable elements of medieval Japanese literature.

Exploring themes of love, nature, and the human experience, this poetry collection draws inspiration from the New Mexico desert and Midwestern winters. The verses transition from reflections on everyday life to a broader vision of beauty under the stars. Royall Tyler's work combines intimate prose with lyrical poetry, showcasing his mature voice and deep understanding of both the mundane and the sacred. Critics praise the collection for its whimsical yet profound nature, highlighting its emotional resonance and the magic of its imagery.

Originally written in the mid-thirteenth century, The Tales of the Heike chronicles the epic Genpei war, a civil conflict that marked the end of the power of the Heike clan and changed the course of Japanese history. Featuring a vivid cast of characters, the book depicts the emerging world of the medieval samurai and recounts in absorbing detail the chaos of the battlefield, the intrigue of the imperial court, and the gradual loss of courtly tradition. This new, abridged translation presents the work's most gripping episodes and includes woodblock illustrations, a glossary of characters, and an extended bibliography.

Exploring the interpretive nuances of The Tale of Genji, this collection of seven essays delves into the role of the protagonist Hikaru Genji, the narrative structure that binds the story, and the significance of the concluding Uji chapters. The essays offer a deep analysis of these key themes, providing insights into the work's continuity and the evolution of its characters, enhancing the reader's understanding of this classic text.

Humorous satire defines this groundbreaking play, which critiques American society's obsession with British fashions and vices. Written by Royall Tyler, a Harvard graduate and Revolutionary War veteran, it marks a pivotal moment in American theater, being the first professionally performed play in the United States. The Contrast not only entertains but also challenges the negative perceptions of theater, helping to reshape American attitudes toward the art form.

Set in the eighteenth century, this novel offers a satirical exploration of American society, highlighting diverse characters from various backgrounds, including a backwoods schoolmaster and a southern gentleman. It critically examines the horrors of the slave trade while also being one of the first American novels to portray the Islamic world. Through its stylistic clarity, it reveals a culture clash and diplomatic tensions reminiscent of contemporary issues between the U.S. and Muslim nations.

Japanese no theatre or the drama of perfected art' flourished in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries largely through the genius of the dramatist Zeami. An intricate fusion of music, dance, mask, costume and language, the dramas address many subjects, but the idea of form is more central than meaning and their structure is always ritualized. Selected for their literary merit, the twenty-four plays in this volume dramatize such ideas as the relationship between men and the gods, brother and sister, parent and child, lover and beloved, and the power of greed and desire. Revered in Japan as a cultural treasure, the spiritual and sensuous beauty of these works has been a profound influence for English-speaking artists including W. B. Yeats, Ezra Pound and Benjamin Britten.

Set in the late 18th century, the novel follows Updike Underhill, a Boston gentleman and scholar, as he navigates a life filled with dramatic contrasts. From near-duels over Greek poetry to his experiences as a surgeon on a slave ship, Underhill's story captures the complexities of his character and the era. Royall Tyler's work, a blend of humor and serious themes, showcases his foresight into the evolution of American literature, making this novel a unique and significant contribution to the literary landscape of its time.

Two hundred and twenty tales from medieval Japan—tales that welcome us into a fabulous faraway world populated by saints, scoundrels, ghosts, magical healers, and a vast assortment of deities and demons. Stories of miracles, visions of hell, jokes, fables, and legends, these tales reflect the Japanese civilization. They ably balance the lyrical and the dramatic, the ribald and the profound, offering a window into a long-vanished culture. With black-and-white illustrations throughout Part of the Pantheon Fairy Tale and Folklore Library

Set in the eighteenth century, this novel offers a satirical exploration of American society, portraying a diverse cast of characters, from backwoods schoolmasters to southern gentlemen. It critiques the horrors of the slave trade while also being one of the first American novels to depict the Islamic world. Through its stylistic purity, the work reveals a culture clash and diplomatic challenges that resonate with contemporary issues between the United States and Muslim nations, making it a significant early contribution to American literature.