A review by dandelionfluff
Ariake: Poems of Love and Longing by the Women Courtiers of Ancient Japan by Liza Dalby, Rae Grant

3.0

If you liked this, I highly recommend [b:Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan|901382|Diaries of Court Ladies of Old Japan|Murasaki Shikibu|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328865721s/901382.jpg|886563] as well as [b:The Ink Dark Moon: Love Poems by Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, Women of the Ancient Court of Japan|189048|The Ink Dark Moon Love Poems by Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu, Women of the Ancient Court of Japan|Ono No Komachi|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403188806s/189048.jpg|182758]. It's more of a scholarly take on things, and will provide a great deal more insight than this edition. Don't get me wrong, it's a wonderful book with lovely aesthetic, but you'll gain more insight into the period and the imagery being used if you also read the aforementioned titles.