The first Japanese author to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, Yasunari Kawabata, presents his collection of short stories titled “Palm-of-the-Hand Stories” to readers. First published in 1920 and completed after the author’s death in 1972, these stories delve into the deep themes that Kawabata explored in his works: loneliness, death, grief, the passing of time, and poverty. Through these stories, the author has managed to create a minimalist richness, addressing the themes of emotion and inner evolution with 146 short stories, each just a few pages long, while also reflecting his poetic spirit from his youth.
Kawabata, describing his work, says: “Many writers write poetry in their youth; instead, I wrote Palm-of-the-Hand Stories… The poetic spirit of my youth lives in them,” shedding light on the deep meanings behind these stories.
The book also reveals the turning points and personal development in the author’s life. With these short stories, Kawabata emphasizes that as a writer, he offers an inner journey not just in his novels, but in every line.
Following the release of the book, Can Yayınları takes pride in introducing Yasunari Kawabata’s literary world to Turkish readers.
“Palm-of-the-Hand Stories” not only opens a window into Kawabata’s deep inner world for literature lovers but also provides a summary of the author’s life.