From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry - Perfect for Literature Lovers & Asian Culture Enthusiasts

If I could only have one book of poetry, this would be it. Stranded on a desert island? Hope to have this anthology with you. The poetry seems to have lost nothing in the translation and the presence of the translators is unfelt. The range is extraordinary (from 400 CE to present day) and all of the poetry is accessible -- with some of it being, quite literally, breath-taking (for me, anyway). There is a delight or a revelation to be found on almost every one of its 652 pages. I have given this anthology to several friends (from a Buddhist monk to a College lecturer in poetry) and each one has been delighted. It is not inexpensive; however, it has a value far beyond its price.