Nothing reflects the beauty of life as much as Japanese theater. It is here that reality is held suspended and emptiness can fill the mind through words, music, dance, and mysticism. A.L. Sadler translates the mysteries of Noh, Kyogen, and Kabuki in this groundbreaking book. Sadler provides a cross section of Japanese theatre that gives the reader a sampler of its beauty and power. The power of Noh is in its ability to create an iconic world that represents the attributes that the Japanese hold in highest esteem: family, patriotism, and honor. Kyogen plays provide comic relief often times performed between the serious and stoic Noh plays. The Kabuki plays were the theatre of the common people that are now precious cultural relics of Japan. Sadler selected these pieces for translation because of their lighter subject matter and relatively upbeat endings, ideal for a western readership. More linear in their telling and pedestrian in the lessons learned, these plays show the difficulties of being in love when a society is bent on conformity and paternal rule. The end result is a wonderful selection of classic Japanese dramatic literature. Book jacket.