1.41Kg of CO2
176 litre(s) of Water
0.0106 Tree(s)
1 book donated to global literacy projects
Geisha of Gion :The True Story of Japan's Foremost Geisha
Geisha of Gion :The True Story of Japan's Foremost Geisha
paperback
Published:
8 July, 2021
Popular Books by Mineko Iwasaki
View All Books by Mineko Iwasaki
Description
'[An] eloquent and innovative memoir' The Times
The extraordinary, bestselling memoir from Japan's foremost geisha.
'I can identify the exact moment when things began to change. It was a cold winter afternoon. I had just turned three.'
Emerging shyly from her hiding place, Mineko encounters Madam Oima, the formidable proprietress of a prolific geisha house in Gion. Madam Oima is mesmerised by the child's black hair and black eyes: she has found her successor. And so Mineko is gently, but firmly, prised away from her parents to embark on an extraordinary profession, of which she will become the best. But even if you are exquisitely beautiful and the darling of the okiya, the life of a geisha is one of gruelling demands. And Mineko must first contend with her bitterly jealous sister who is determined to sabotage her success . . .
Captivating and poignant, Geisha of Gion tells of Mineko's ascendancy to fame and her ultimate decision to leave the profession she found so constricting. After centuries of mystery Mineko is the only geisha to speak out. This is the true story she has long wanted to tell and the one that the West has long wanted to hear.
More Details
| Type | Book |
|---|---|
| ISBN13 | 9781471195105 |
| ISBN10 | 1471195104 |
| Number Of Pages | 352 |
| Item Weight | 1000 g |
| Product Dimensions | 130 x 198 x 22 mm |
| Publisher / Reseller | Simon & Schuster Ltd |
| Format | paperback |
| Edition | Reissue |
Media Reviews
'Honest and authentic and entirely believable, a good read' Adeline Yen Mah 'It does offer readers a glimpse into the exotic, mysterious, tinged-with eroticism world of the almost mythical geisha' * Daily Mail *
'This eloquent and innovative memoir from a woman who threw herself with energy, dignity and unwavering commitment into the exacting demands of the geisha lifestyle should be recieved with nothing but respect' * The Times *
'A fascinating account...Her storytelling is charming and filled with fascinating details of her clients, her colleagues and Japanese cultural life' * Big Issue *
'This beautifully written book gives a truly fascinating insight into a secretive world' * Company Magazine *
'This marvellous factual memoir is written by the woman who inspired Arthur Golden's Memoirs of a Geisha' * Good Book Guide *
'The extraordinary life of the Japanese geisha holds an air of fascination . . . To read this is to dip into the Japanses psyche and glimpse a world which Westerners still find difficult to understand' * Worcester Evening News *
'Wonderfully romantic' * TLS *
'I was left feeling both respect and sorrow for Mineko...her courage and fortitude at revealing what she has experienced and, myself personally, revulsion at the contrived and exploitative expectations imposed on someone at such a young age' * Belfast Telegraph *
'Her memoir provides some startling details and wonderful insights...This superb translation is full of emotional ups and downs...very hard to put down' * Tribune *
GoodReads Reviews
Author's Bio
MINEKO reached the peak of her career as a geisha in the 70s and 80s, performing for the likes of the Queen and Prince Charles. Now, decades later (and still stunningly beautiful), she is the mother of one daughter and lives with her husband in a suburb of Kyoto, Japan.