Under the cherry blossom tree
Under the Cherry Tree (Original title: Under the Cherry Blossom Tree ) is a picture book of Japanese - American writer, illustrator and photographer Allen Say , which he wrote and illustrated. The book tells a Makura . This type of Japanese short story, which translates as a pillow , was performed to get the audience in the mood for the actual funny story ( rakugo ). Under the cherry blossom treeis one of the most popular and oldest makuras and thus a characteristic example of the tradition of Japanese humor. Says ink drawings complete the surreal story of the ill-tempered landlord with a cherry tree growing on his head. This is the beginning of a series of calamities for him and a better life for the poor villagers.
Under the Cherry Blossom Tree was published in 1974 by the US publisher Houghton Mifflin in American language and has a length of 32 pages. The German translation was published by Edition Bracklo on March 17, 2016 and is also 32 pages long. Gabriela Bracklo translated the book. It is Say's third book.
content
In a big house lives a disgruntled bad man who owns all the houses and land in the whole valley. Although he is so devious that he takes the last of their money from the already poor villagers, they can hardly wait for the beginning of spring and use the first beautiful Sunday to sing and dance outdoors. The grumpy landlord detests the good mood and the singing birds. Nevertheless, he sits outside under a cherry tree and eats cherries there. In doing so, he accidentally swallowed a stone, whereupon a cherry tree sprouts from his head the next morning, which grows and thrives there. When the villagers make fun of him for this reason, he tears the tree off his head to chase them away with it. But now he has a large hole in his head where the tree was, which fills with water when it rains. So that the water does not wet his bed, the landlord now sleeps sitting down. Fish begin to settle in his head, which he is happy about, because now he always has fresh carp on hand. While taking a nap in the garden in the afternoon, Tabo, the bravest boy in the village, tries to catch a fish from the head of the landlord. When this succeeds, the other children join him. But one day a huge carp bites and jumps back into the old man's head with a big splash, whereupon he wakes up. Screaming and roaring, he chases the children into the village and overlooks a stone on his way. When he stumbles over it, the landlord flies into the air and his feet sink into the hole in his head and suddenly his whole body is gone. Only a nice little pond remains and now the villagers can enjoy spring even more than before.
Literary criticism
"[Say's] misty fine line illustrations, which reflect the Japanese setting, help to make the far-fetched developments dreamily believable." The Kirkus Review, March 1, 1974
Public book presentations
The book was presented as a world premiere in the presence of the writer at the children's and youth program at the 16th Berlin International Literature Festival in September 2016.
Web links
- American and German language publisher website for the book
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Under-the-Cherry-Blossom-Tree/9780547772776
- ↑ http://www.edition-bracklo.de/?product=unter-dem-kirschbluetenbaum-eine-traditionelle-japanische-geschichte-neu-erzaehlt-von-allen-say-bilderbuch-2
- ↑ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/allen-say/under-the-cherry-blossom-tree/
- ↑ http://www.literaturfestival.com/kjl