Beauty and Sadness

Yasunari Kawabata · 1899–1972 · Japan

Originally Utsukushisa to Kanashimi to (Japanese) · translated by Howard Hibbett

Why it matters

An aging novelist visits the former mistress he immortalized in fiction decades ago, not reckoning on her fiercely protective young protégée. Kawabata's late, coldest book: desire curdled into obsession and revenge.

At a glance

Shifting points of view and a simmering menace beneath placid surfaces.