The Japanese

Children's Literature - Kathleen Karr

From "Look into the Past." a British import series, this introduction to Japanese history focuses on the colorful Edo Period (1603-1867) during which Japan was ruled by a shogun, "a commander-in-chief for beating the barbarians." The four classes of Japanese society (samurai, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants) and the civilization they promoted are aptly described and illustrated. Small asides, such as a reference to The Tale of Genji, the first epic ever written by a woman, are welcome, but could have been expanded upon.