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hopeloveslit's review
3.5
The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches is the second book I’ve read by Bashō. I love traveling back to 17th-century Japan with him. He viewed his surroundings and the world in such a beautiful and inspiring way. His work compels you to slow down and appreciate everything about this extraordinary planet.
“Every turn of the road brought me new thoughts and every sunrise gave me fresh emotions.”
This collection is an insightful look into Bashō’s extensive travels through mountains, villages, and wherever his wandering spirit transported him. There is a masterful mix of classic Bashō poetry and prose. The sketches were adorable and enhanced the reading experience.
“In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred bones and nine orifices, there is something, and this something is called a wind-swept spirit for lack of a better name, for it is much like a thin drapery that is torn and swept away at the slightest stir of the wind.”
Bashō speaks about the ancients on his travels. I loved how rich in history his words were. Although I enjoyed this collection, the meanings of Bashō’s poetry didn’t translate well to English. In Japanese, I’m certain this book would have received four stars! Nonetheless, I’d recommend it, especially if you enjoy reading about travel.
“A thicket of summer grass
Is all that remains
Of the dreams and ambitions
Of ancient warriors.”
“Every turn of the road brought me new thoughts and every sunrise gave me fresh emotions.”
This collection is an insightful look into Bashō’s extensive travels through mountains, villages, and wherever his wandering spirit transported him. There is a masterful mix of classic Bashō poetry and prose. The sketches were adorable and enhanced the reading experience.
“In this mortal frame of mine which is made of a hundred bones and nine orifices, there is something, and this something is called a wind-swept spirit for lack of a better name, for it is much like a thin drapery that is torn and swept away at the slightest stir of the wind.”
Bashō speaks about the ancients on his travels. I loved how rich in history his words were. Although I enjoyed this collection, the meanings of Bashō’s poetry didn’t translate well to English. In Japanese, I’m certain this book would have received four stars! Nonetheless, I’d recommend it, especially if you enjoy reading about travel.
“A thicket of summer grass
Is all that remains
Of the dreams and ambitions
Of ancient warriors.”
te_books's review against another edition
Really different for me. Part historical Japanese travel journal, part poetry book. I struggled to understand some of it— some of the historical Japan parts and some the poetry parts— but I’m left with a definite feeling of wanderlust and spiritual curiosity. Reading Basho’s terse journal entries after he decides to change his life and wander around the country gives a feeling of raw wonder for nature and the world.
blue_caribou's review
4.0
This is a lovely collection of Bashō's travel writings, though having read On Love and Barley immediately before, I was slightly disconcerted by the editorial decision to render his poetry in four-line stanzas. It did work to evoke more closely the true detail and atmosphere of the poems, however lost something of the free rhythm and expression for me. I would be interested to also read a translation in classic three line stanzas for comparison.
sydsnot71's review against another edition
4.0
This is a collection of Matsuo Bashō's travel writing. It is made up of five short books: The Records of a Weather-Exposed Skeleton; A Visit to the Kashima Shrine; The Records of a Travel-Worn Satchel; A Visit to Sarashina Village and The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
They are a mix of prose and poetry. Bashō is best known in the West, if he is known at all, as a poet. He seemed to specialise in haiku (both singularly and as part of linked verse.)
Far and distant
Lighter than cherry blossoms
Floating like a mirage
The pine tree of Karasaki
First published in 1966 and translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa this is a fascinating collection. Yuasa's introduction is absolutely worth reading for contextualising both the poems and the poet.
Although this is ostensibly travel writing there is a subtext, which is that of a man trying to find his place in the world and to find the courage to devote himself to poetry. In The Records of a Travel-Worn Satchel this is explicitly outlined in a really strong section explaining this process and that ends:
"The fact is, it knows no other art than the art of writing poetry, and therefore, it hangs on it more or less blindly." (p71)
These are the journeys of man going out into the world to find himself and his muse. He struggles to write poetry when he feels he should be able to because of all the stimuli* around him.
It isn't a long read. Without the introduction and footnotes the text of the five books is only 92 pages, but I think the introduction is essential. I really enjoyed reading it and the next time I'm travelling I might take it with me to read as I'm out and about to remind me to 'stop and stare.'
*I'm not sure stimuli is the right word, but I'm tired and my brain is struggling to find the correct one.
They are a mix of prose and poetry. Bashō is best known in the West, if he is known at all, as a poet. He seemed to specialise in haiku (both singularly and as part of linked verse.)
Far and distant
Lighter than cherry blossoms
Floating like a mirage
The pine tree of Karasaki
First published in 1966 and translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa this is a fascinating collection. Yuasa's introduction is absolutely worth reading for contextualising both the poems and the poet.
Although this is ostensibly travel writing there is a subtext, which is that of a man trying to find his place in the world and to find the courage to devote himself to poetry. In The Records of a Travel-Worn Satchel this is explicitly outlined in a really strong section explaining this process and that ends:
"The fact is, it knows no other art than the art of writing poetry, and therefore, it hangs on it more or less blindly." (p71)
These are the journeys of man going out into the world to find himself and his muse. He struggles to write poetry when he feels he should be able to because of all the stimuli* around him.
It isn't a long read. Without the introduction and footnotes the text of the five books is only 92 pages, but I think the introduction is essential. I really enjoyed reading it and the next time I'm travelling I might take it with me to read as I'm out and about to remind me to 'stop and stare.'
*I'm not sure stimuli is the right word, but I'm tired and my brain is struggling to find the correct one.
ionm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The laconic haiku is wrapped by prose in the travelogues of Matsuo Bashō. Nobuyuki Yuasa grouped the author's travel stories chronologically and presented them into this elegant English translation, "The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches".
Written in the second half of the 17th century, these texts are a poetic reminder of the ephemerality of human kind into the vast landscape of the natural world. Bashō did not claim to teach us directly about certain truths here, but rather in detailing his journeys across Japan, he wanted us to contemplate with him the beauty of this world, and the apparent meaningless concerns that trouble our day to day lives.
In effect, the act of travelling allows Bashō to experience life in its purest form, one that has no grand design in its purpose except that of satisfying one's curiosity of this world. Visits to famous mountains, beaches, temples, shrines, mausoleums, and other more ordinary settings, are an excuse for experiencing novelty and translating it into poetry.
The poems are central to the brilliance of this book. Their apparent simplicity shines with the power of universality. The haiku and other linked verses talk about nature and people. The emotions stirred by the poems about human life are ones of melancholy and desperation. The poems depicting the natural world are a celebration of timelessness and perfection. This concern for beauty may be originating in religion, but ultimately their aim is to consecrate purity in literature.
In the introduction and notes, Yuasa gives us an informative analysis of Japanese poetry, its medieval history and of Bashō's life. Without it, for the uninformed reader, this book may appear trivial, yet beautiful. What we ultimately learn is of the author's special place in Japanese literature as a poet that perfected the precision of the haiku and liberated it from human motivation. The poetry is allowed to breathe by itself, and as readers we are left with sublimity speaking to us in all its glory.
"The Narrow Road to the Deep North" and the other four travelogues are a meditation that will simply guide us forward, losing sense of our earthly existence with each step on the way.
Written in the second half of the 17th century, these texts are a poetic reminder of the ephemerality of human kind into the vast landscape of the natural world. Bashō did not claim to teach us directly about certain truths here, but rather in detailing his journeys across Japan, he wanted us to contemplate with him the beauty of this world, and the apparent meaningless concerns that trouble our day to day lives.
In effect, the act of travelling allows Bashō to experience life in its purest form, one that has no grand design in its purpose except that of satisfying one's curiosity of this world. Visits to famous mountains, beaches, temples, shrines, mausoleums, and other more ordinary settings, are an excuse for experiencing novelty and translating it into poetry.
The poems are central to the brilliance of this book. Their apparent simplicity shines with the power of universality. The haiku and other linked verses talk about nature and people. The emotions stirred by the poems about human life are ones of melancholy and desperation. The poems depicting the natural world are a celebration of timelessness and perfection. This concern for beauty may be originating in religion, but ultimately their aim is to consecrate purity in literature.
In the introduction and notes, Yuasa gives us an informative analysis of Japanese poetry, its medieval history and of Bashō's life. Without it, for the uninformed reader, this book may appear trivial, yet beautiful. What we ultimately learn is of the author's special place in Japanese literature as a poet that perfected the precision of the haiku and liberated it from human motivation. The poetry is allowed to breathe by itself, and as readers we are left with sublimity speaking to us in all its glory.
"The Narrow Road to the Deep North" and the other four travelogues are a meditation that will simply guide us forward, losing sense of our earthly existence with each step on the way.