Empire of Signs

This book, which Barth himself described as "the happiest" of all his books, is inspired by his travels to Japan and - more broadly - by the "Japanese text" of his life: an early fascination with haiku, later - with calligraphy, bunraku theater, etc. A Barthesian "illustrated guide" to a country (both real and imagined) where he dreamed of living but never settled. The Russian translation of "Empire of Signs," first published in 2004, is being released in a new edition with a detailed commentary and afterword by the translator and editor.