“The Maids” Junichiro Tanizaki (1963) Review | All his lovable maids

★★★★★ Maids in Japan this period were not just housekeepers, they were a part of the family. And it’s Tanizaki, all his women are unique and loveable, and all a bit crazy.

🔽 log 🔽
The Maids
Junichiro Tanizaki, 1963
台所太平記
谷崎潤一郎
Read 2024.8


🔽 Book review and notes 🔽
In the house with an old man, many maids come and go.
Back then, maids were not just housekeepers, the young girls come out from countryside, and their employers treat them like nieces, taking care of their affairs.

And remember it's Tanizaki, it means all the women in the book are unique, loveable and a bit crazy.
The house is always noisy with the maids chatting away and running around, exactly as the old man likes.
Yes he likes the girls and looking at their feet, but he also lets go of their little madness, or their love affairs, even love affairs among the girls.
It's an old custom or value that's disappeared.

It might not be one of his more famous books, but it's fun, it's sensual, it's subtly sensational, definitely a lovely read.

🔽 Where to buy 🔽

●●● Amazon.com (US) ●●●

The Maids

●●● Amazon.co.uk (UK) ●●●
The Maids

●●● Amazon.it (Italy) ●●●
Le domestiche (Italiano)