Feminist tales from Japan that blend humour, surrealism, and sharp societal critique, by the acclaimed author of Where the Wild Ladies Are. Translated by the brilliant Polly Barton.
Piercing, inventive, and drily humorous, the fifty-two stories included in this collection shine an unforgiving spotlight on the various forms of discrimination still deeply rooted in Japanese society, with a particular focus on persistent and pervasive sexism.
The normalisation of violence against women on screen and in the media is confronted in the title story, while others invest inanimate objects with their own perspectives, take as their subject the aesthetics of technology, or use clever wordplay to riff off the absurdity of life. Strong feminist viewpoints are presented with groundbreaking sharpness and a detached wit that only enhances their impact, perfectly striking the balance between gravity and levity.
More than a simple thrill ride, The Woman Dies is a vast, multifaceted theme park of ideas, and a unique space that invites readers to enter with a mix of awe and wonder.
Paperback. Signed bookplate enclosed - signed by both Aoko and Polly - what a flippin' treat!
