Early modern Japanese literature : an anthology, 1600-1900

One of the major characteristics of early modern Japanese literature is that almost all of the popular fiction was amply illustrated by wood-block prints, creating an extensive text-image phenomenon.

In some genres such as kibyoshi and gokan the text in fact appeared inside the woodblock image.

Woodblock prints of actors were also an important aspect of the culture of kabuki drama.

A major feature of this anthology is the inclusion of over 200 woodblock prints that accompanied the original texts and drama.