The Frontier Within: Essays by Abe Kobo (Weatherhead Books on Asia)

Abe Kobo (1924–1993) was one of Japan’s greatest postwar writers, recognized widely for his science fiction and plays of the absurd. He also wrote keen theoretical criticism for which he is lesser known, merging literary, historical, and philosophical perspectives. From the nature of creativity to the evolution of the human species, Abe tackled contemporary social issues and literary theory with the depth and facility of a visionary thinker.

Featuring twelve essays from twenty-five years of Abe’s prolific career, including his 1944 “Poetry and Poets (Consciousness and the Unconscious)” and his 1969 “The Frontier Within, Part II,” this anthology for the first time introduces English-speaking readers to Abe as critic and intellectual. Proving the importance of his theoretical work to a broader understanding of his fiction—and a richer portrait of Japan’s postwar imagination—Richard F. Calichman provides a substantial introduction to Abe’s achievements and situates his essays within historical and intellectual trends.