Frolic of the Beasts

Description: "Originally published in Japan as Kemono no tawamure by Shinchosha, Tokyo, in 1961"--Title page verso.

Review Quotes: One of LitHub's Best Translated Novels of the Decade

"Mishima is a giant. . . . One of the most acclaimed writers of the 20th century. . . . The uniquely askew relationships at the center of the story mean that its most riveting scenes are well and truly riveting; unforgettable, even." --The New York Times Book Review

"A compelling tale of love and violence. . . . Mishima is a magnificent and important storyteller. . . Admirers of the enigmatic Japanese master have reason to rejoice. Those still unfamiliar with his work might very well have a new entryway to one of the most vital--and troubling--literary voices of the 20th century. . . . By the time we reach the end, Mishima's twisty timeline pays huge dividends. A powerful epilogue ties a neat ribbon around the plot." --The Washington Post

"[A] little gem." --The Wall Street Journal

"[A] luridly propulsive novel. . . . This disturbing book is a masterful look into the 'very instant when the truth of perverse human nature begins to shine.' . . . With Mishima's baroque, beautiful prose hinting at depravity on every page." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[A] psychologically complex novel finally available in a honed translation by Andrew Clare. . . . Mishima, an extraordinary literary talent, was to the last a consummate multifaceted performance artist, profoundly aware of the pressing momentum of time." --The Times Literary Supplement

"Classic Mishima terrain. . . . A stimulating read and a welcome addition to the canon of Mishima translations." --The Japan Times

"Masterful. . . . A tale of lust, violence and acceptance, the story stands as another example of [Mishima's] genius." --Shelf Awareness

"The kind of book you scribble all over in excitement because every line is so brilliant." --Chicago Review of Books

"The Frolic of the Beasts has finally been published in English, in a decent translation by Andrew Clare. . . . Mishima was prolific and versatile in a manner reminiscent of a writer like John Updike. In addition to hundreds of short stories and eleven volumes of critical essays, he wrote thirty-five novels and thirteen plays . . . including adaptations from the Noh theater repertory." --The New York Review of Books

"Representative Mishima. . . . [The Frolic of the Beasts shows] the author's penchant for meticulously peeling the onion." --The Hudson Review

"A tragic, haunting work from a master." --The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)