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'What is the life of a human being - a drop of dew, a flash of lightning? This is so sad, so sad.' Autobiographical stories from one of Japan's masters of modernist story-telling. Introducing Little Black Classics: 80 books for Penguin's 80th birthday. Little Black Classics celebrate the huge range and diversity of Penguin Classics, with books from around the world and across many centuries. They take us from a balloon ride over Victorian London to a garden of blossom in Japan, from Tierra del Fuego to 16th-century California and the Russian steppe. Here are stories lyrical and savage; poems epic and intimate; essays satirical and inspirational; and ideas that have shaped the lives of millions.

Aparut in 1961, Frumoasele adormite este singurul roman al lui Yasunari Kawabata care exploreaza in mod explicit psihologia atractiei sexuale.

In aceasta cronica romanesca a unei partide istorice in care se infrunta un venerabil maestru si un tanar jucator talentat, Kawabata a surprins ciocnirea dintre traditia Japoniei imperiale si modernizarea adusa de secolul XX.

Dincolo de eticheta subtila a jocului, expresie sublimata a spiritului japonez, si de respectul ceremonios al celor doi adversari, se desfasoara un duel simbolic, ce nu poate avea decat un deznodamant tragic.

Maestrul de go se dovedeste astfel o elegie a disparitiei unei lumi milenare in fata invaziei prezentului pragmatic.