A review by foggy_rosamund
The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches by Matsuo Bashō

5.0

A wonderful little book. Nobuyuki Yuasa's translation feels fresh and lively and is easy to read. He provides a very helpful introduction giving the new reader useful background and insight into haiku. I found Basho's poetry and prose forced me to slow down -- to read and reread and think about each scene. If I had rushed, I think the meaning would have been lost, because the imagery and beauty of the words needs reflection, not speed.

A haiku I particularly enjoyed --

A branch of wild azalea
Thrown into a bucket,
Behind, a woman tearing
The meat of a dried codfish.