{"product_id":"the-wasteland-by-takahashi-takako-9781939161109","title":"The Wasteland: By Takahashi Takako","description":"\u003cp\u003e • Author(s): Britten Dean | Britten Dean\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher: Cornell University - Cornell East Asia Series\u003cbr\u003e • Publisher Imprint: Cornell University - Cornell East Asia Series\u003cbr\u003e • BISAC: Asian - Japanese\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Wasteland explores the psychology of the modern Japanese woman and her urge to realize an inner self of latent sexuality, long suppressed in Japan's male-dominated society. Nobe Michiko, the novel's narcissistic protagonist, leaves ruined lives in her wake as she pursues her lustful goals. The author, Takahashi Takako (1932-2013) earned bachelor's and master's degrees in French literature at prestigious Kyoto University, a remarkable achievement for a woman in the 1950s. There, she was influenced by the decadent poetry of Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867) and the writings of novelist and Catholic apologist François Mauriac (1885-1970). Christianity and depravity characterize both The Wasteland and many of Takahashi's other works. The novel was first published in 1980 at a time of explosive Japanese economic growth, which, in Takahashi's view, had created in Tokyo a wasteland of immorality and inhumanity. Yet it is a Christian novel, for the author was a devout Roman Catholic (indeed a one-time nun), and the title page epigraph from the Old Testament book of \"Hosea\" unmistakably mantles the narrative in a religious message--God is here to help if the wayward would but listen. But, do they listen?\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Atlantic Books","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46457739870359,"sku":"9781939161109","price":6361.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0666\/3471\/1191\/files\/9781939161109.webp?v=1769182981","url":"https:\/\/atlanticbooks.com\/products\/the-wasteland-by-takahashi-takako-9781939161109","provider":"Atlantic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}