Death in Midsummer is a collection of short stories and one Noh play written and chosen by Mishima himself. It is a great introduction to his writing and additional reading for those who have already read most of his works.
This collection includes: Death in Midsummer, Three Million Yen, Thermos Flasks, The Priest of Shiga Temple and His Love, The Seven Bridges, Patriotism, Onnagata, The Pearl and Swaddling Clothes. From stories about geisha to kabuki actors, parabolic histories about human flaws, and tragic stories analyzing different aspects of death and trauma, Death in Midsummer gives an insight into the strong points of Mishima’s works.
You will find everything that’s so captivating about Mishima’s writing: elaborate metaphors, penetrating insight, intensity, uncompromising nature and, of course, poetic language translated skillfully by Ivan Morris, Donald Keene, Geoffrey Sargent, and Edward Seidensticker.
