Perspective

"The Kagero Diary," contains the autobiographical accounts of a Japanese woman who lives over a thousand years ago. The book is written in first person narrative in which the author records the anguish and pain she experiences from living in a dysfunctional, unsatisfying marriage. The book covers a period that spans the time of her marriage as a young woman to the latter years of her life. The woman, who is only identified by the title of Michitsuna's mother, is a prolific writer and poet. Many of her poems are made part of her diary. The woman is recognized during her lifetime for her writing abilities.

Relying on her artistry, the woman is able to convey the deep feelings—pain, concern, uncertainty—that she experiences while living a life of disappointment. As a young woman, she is anxious to have a husband and her own family...