Tom Lowenstein Boeken

A photographic celebration of the greatest Buddhist art and monuments - in the context of history, belief and ritual

The collection showcases the intersection of poetry and ethnography, particularly focusing on the Inuit of Alaska. It features selected works from Tom Lowenstein's career, including pieces from "Filibustering in Samsara" and "Ancient Land: Sacred Whale," alongside uncollected poems. The volume highlights Lowenstein's unique voice, blending scholarly insights with poetic expression, making him a distinctive figure in contemporary British poetry. His work challenges categorization while exploring themes of ancestry and the natural world.

Reverence for animals and the earth is a common theme that runs through the myths of Native Americans. Many creation myths, for instance, attribute the earth's beginning to varied animals as the turtle, the waterbeetle, and the muskrat. The reverence for animals and the earth is one of many themes explored in this exciting new volume from Time-Life Books. Hundreds of photographs with descriptive text help the reader on this journey to Mother Earth, Father Sky.

The poetry in this volume is characterized by its concise and stripped-down expressions, contrasting with the expansive narratives found in 'Ancestors and Species.' The work evokes a sense of a long, costly journey through an increasingly unfamiliar landscape, culminating in a space where interpretation ceases. This collection invites readers to explore the depths of brevity and the complexities of experience.

The author’s journey spans various cultures and academic pursuits, beginning with his teaching career in London and at Northwestern University. His significant connection to Tikigaq emerged during his visits in the 1970s, where he collaborated with local elders, enriching his understanding of their heritage. With a background in Sanskrit studies, he now resides in London, balancing his work as an online English tutor with a passion for poetry. This blend of experiences shapes his unique perspective and creative expression.

Focusing on the historical interactions between the native Tikigaq people and Anglo-Americans in nineteenth-century Point Hope, this volume explores the complexities of cultural exchange. Tom Lowenstein delves into the impacts of alcohol and disease on Native communities, alongside the roles of commercial whalemen and missionaries. The narrative highlights both the challenges and the eventual mutual assimilation between these groups, making it a significant resource for historians, ethnographers, and anthropologists.

The historical significance of Uji, a suburb south of Kyoto, is highlighted through its ancient bridge, first built in the 10th century. The bridge is notably featured in the concluding chapters of Murasaki Shikibu's classic, The Tale of Genji, which has been translated by Arthur Waley. A contemporary depiction of Murasaki stands at one end, linking the past and present, and emphasizing the enduring legacy of her literary contributions.

Set against the backdrop of an English pastoral landscape, this prose meditation journeys from rural Somerset to the Central Asian steppe and the 13th-century palaces of the Khan of north China. Through the voice of a garrulous, solipsistic persona reminiscent of Coleridge, the narrative explores themes of imagination and the interplay between history and fantasy. The work intricately weaves essays, journals, and musings that reflect a deep engagement with both the natural world and the power of creative thought.

Poetry aficionados will appreciate this beautifully designed and illustrated collection of 200 haiku by the four most celebrated Japanese poets of the 17th, 18th, and 19th Basho, Buson, Issa, and Shiki, who modernized the form and coined the very term haiku . Enhancing their work are four seasonally-themed groups of verse, many written by Basho’s students and associates. The translation is thoroughly readable and contemporary, and the images evocative. An enlightening introduction offers biographical information on the featured poets, background on the nature of haiku and its development within the Japanese poetic tradition, and a short account of the Buddhist practice to which most of the writers were connected.