Earlier Interpretations Research Articles

Translation Studies Quadrant-Petal Map: An Analytical Retrospect on Intellectual Translation Turns

Abstract
 The history of translation studies is swarming with tenth of categorizations of the hierarchal epochs of translation studies since the arousal of early translation views in the 16th century and till the 21st century. This study opens a window on the significant translation turns in the history of translation studies; it historically categories significant translation theories conducted across the above-mentioned period under four translation turns, namely: Early views on Translation, The Linguistic-Equivalence turn, The Cultural-Purpose turn and The Interdisciplinarity turn. Such categorization provides a better understanding for the most significant translation theories and models in the history of translation studies and their eminent impact on the translation field in specific and the society in general—generally represented in the recipients of the translation service. Translation Theories under each turn accomplish a major translation aim namely the Nationalistic translation aim*. This nationalistic translation aim represents the translation requirements in its functional, ethical, and social sense as generally required by translation service receivers, labeled in the current study as a Translation Petal; it is further implicitly addressed to the society to positively improve the society’s opinion towards translation. The current study fulfills a threefold aim: First, it sheds light on the significant translation turns across the history of translation studies and highlights the main features of each translation turn. Second, it renames the reviewed translation turns according to the translation function of the significant translation theories under each turn. Third, it elucidates the link between each translation turn and the nationalistic translation aim (i.e. translation petal) it urges for through a precise mind-map entitled as the Translation Studies Quadrant Petal Map [TSQPM] that presents the new naming of the four reviewed turns and clarifies the nationalistic translation aim (i.e. translation petal) implemented under each intellectual translation turn.

Abstract 2336: Pan-cancer analysis of NAMPT inhibitors reveals unique sensitivities to multiple NAMPT inhibitors in several cancer types

Abstract Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) plays a critical role in cellular metabolism and as such has been an active target for cancer drug therapy. NAMPT inhibition, via small molecule NAMPT inhibitors, disrupts cellular energy metabolism as well as other NAD+-dependent processes and has been shown to suppress cancer cell proliferation. The early clinical translation of NAMPT inhibitors has been hindered by toxicity, therefore the successful development of newer classes of NAMPT inhibitors will depend on identifying cancers with unique sensitivity to, and molecular biomarkers of susceptibility to NAMPT inhibition. Through our pan-cancer screens using several different NAMPT inhibitors on molecularly characterized cancer cell line panels, we have identified specific cancer types and subtypes that are consistently sensitive to NAMPT inhibition. In order to determine the efficacy of NAMPT inhibitors in different cancer cells, we performed proliferation assays on a large and fully characterized panel of human cancer cell lines (n=496) for response to several NAMPT inhibitors including FK866, KPT9274 and LSN3154567. Briefly, cells were treated with six dilutions of these inhibitors in duplicate, counted following a 6-day treatment window and IC50 values were determined for each cell line. Reverse-phase protein array (RPPA) analysis, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), point mutation and RNAseq data for each cell line were then queried for correlation with NAMPT sensitivity/resistance. Proliferation assays indicate a strong correlation between sensitive and resistant cancer cell types to all three compounds despite their different mechanisms of action. Most notably, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), ovarian cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma and small cell lung cancer cells (SCLC) consistently demonstrated sensitivity to treatment with NAMPT inhibitors. Additional analysis revealed several baseline genomic and proteomic markers that were strongly associated with response to NAMPT inhibition. Our screening process provides a comprehensive overview of the cancer types and subtypes that demonstrate sensitivity to NAMPT inhibition. Furthermore, the molecular predictors of response identified in our screen may ultimately be useful in developing diagnostic tools for enrollment in biomarker-enriched clinical trials aimed at determining the potential use of NAMPT inhibitors. These results suggest the inhibitors’ therapeutic potential in patient populations presenting with AML, ovarian cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma and SCLC all of which currently have high unmet needs. Citation Format: Jenny J. Hong, Martina S. McDermott, Jewel K. Ng, Prita Pandya, Dennis J. Slamon. Pan-cancer analysis of NAMPT inhibitors reveals unique sensitivities to multiple NAMPT inhibitors in several cancer types [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2336.

Engineering the reconstruction of Hawrān’s Ecclesiae during late antiquity: case of Julianos church in Umm el-Jimal, Jordan

This study challenges the stylistic-based classical prototype of the early Byzantine churches in the basaltic Hawrān region in the Middle East- the birthplace of Christianity and home to the world's most ancient Christian architecture and engineering ideologies. We focus on the engineering of the apsidal zone and its structural and architectural implications in relevance to the prototypical arcuated one. The instrumental case of Julianos Church in Umm el-Jimal provides an insight into the effect the local material and structural technique have on the formation of complex roofing structures for the apsidal zone. The detailed interpretation of the structural engineering reconstruction is coupled with historical research and digitally generated 2D and 3D reconstruction models. The findings indicate that the apsidal zone's engineering could have responded to Hawrān's unique material, structural techniques, and seismic measures. We finally compare the early twentieth-century scholars' stylistic-based interpretation of the apse roof to contemporary engineering-based reconstruction research based on historical evidence and contextual studies. Future researchers and conservators should consider a holistic approach that balances stylistic/engineering reconstruction processes carefully and numerically. The builders of Hawrān should have introduced novel engineering of their ecclesiastical architecture that differs from its 'classical' counterpart.

Confessionalization and comets. John Bainbridge on the comet of 1618

ABSTRACT At first sight, the English astronomer John Bainbridge's treatise on the great comet of 1618 appears rather idiosyncratic. It regards the comet as a favourable omen and applies an astrological explanation that is completely metaphorical. At closer look, however, Bainbridge's interpretation appears well in line with the meaning commonly attributed to comets at the time. We should realize that an important function of the discourse on prodigious phenomena, such as comets, was to uphold and strengthen the confessional social order. Moreover, the treatise was addressed to the King rather than to the common population. To understand the early modern interpretation of comets, the processes of confessionalization and de-confessionalization deserve more consideration.

Choice Implies Meaning

Abstract That 1 Peter uses participles where imperatives are expected is clear. Why it does so is not. Scholarly discussion has focused on whether the participles are independent or dependent. Early grammarians argued that these participles were dependent but struggled to explain why the participles appeared far from their head verb. Modern grammarians have argued that they are independent, yet they have given insufficient attention to why the participle is used instead of the imperative. This article suggests a path forward, which vindicates the earlier interpretation by providing a discourse explanation for the “imperatival participles.” Stated simply, the participle is operating according to its normal function by structuring the discourse. That the participles in 1 Peter are far from their head verb shows the complex structuring of the letter, with the main imperatives moving the discourse along and the participles expressing ways that those head verbs may be accomplished.

Martin Luther's First Major Publication

Martin Luther's First Major Publication Timothy J. Wengert Preface by Richard (Bo) Manly Adams, Jr., Director, Pitts Theology Library, Emory University The Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection was formed at Emory University's Pitts Theology Library in 1987, with a mission of collecting early print and manuscript materials related to the Lutheran Reformation in Europe in the sixteenth century. Through the hard work of its stewards and the generous support of hundreds of donors, the Kessler Collection has grown into the largest holding of Reformation materials in North America, and Pitts Theology Library has become a leading center for international research on the Protestant Reformation. In addition to its books and manuscripts, the Kessler Collection fosters learning through exhibitions, programming, and teaching. The thirty-five years of collection growth have been marked by major milestones, such as the acquisition of Luther's September Testament (1987), the move of the collection to the library's new building and the Jeschke-Graham Reading Room (2014), and the discovery of Martin Luther's inscription on a 1520 pseudonymous pamphlet (2017: https://www.ajc.com/news/local-education/rare-martin-luther-writing-found-emory-university/07yn5JC4RRnEn35GKXHIlO/). The year 2021 marked yet another milestone for the Kessler Collection: the acquisition of its 4,000th item. In anticipation of the collection surpassing 4,000 items, Pitts Theology Library launched a "Kessler in 4K" fundraising campaign in October of 2021, a one-month blitz to fund a major acquisition. With the generous support of more than one hundred and thirty donors, Pitts quickly surpassed its goal of raising $50,000 to acquire the 4,000th item. Working with a book dealer in Germany, we settled upon Luther's 1517 commentary on the penitential psalms. It is altogether fitting that we mark this milestone with the addition of Luther's first publication, a work documented in only one other North American collection. This piece emphasizes how central Luther's work and the development of his thought is to the mission of the Kessler Collection. But its mission has never focused solely on collecting books; rather it is a teaching and research collection, focused on maximizing the impact of these books and manuscripts through digitization, exhibitions, and teaching. To help with that mission, we are blessed to work [End Page 166] with a team of leading scholars who form our advisory board, and none of them has been more dedicated and helpful than our good friend, Dr. Timothy J. Wengert. I am honored that he volunteered to write such a detailed explanation of this work, and I am hopeful that his wonderful essay will show readers the importance of the work of the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection. Martin Luther's First Major Publication If asked what Martin Luther's first independently published work was, most people would answer with The Ninety-Five Theses.1 But they would be wrong. Instead, a good six months before the Theses found their way into print (on or after 31 October 1517), Martin Luther entered the authorial lists with a Wittenberg publication (Figure 1) that, at first, made no splash at all at the Holy Roman Empire's book fairs—until, of course, his Ninety-Five Theses and the German equivalent (Sermon on Indulgences and Grace from early 1518) made him famous.2 Only then did printers see fit to republish his (early 1517) Seven Penitential Psalms: in 1518 (Leipzig), in 1519 (Leipzig and Strasbourg), in 1520 (Leipzig and Augsburg), in 1524 (Erfurt), and in 1525 (unknown place).3 In 1525, Luther made corrections and refinements so that a second edition came out in 1525 (published in Wittenberg [three printings] and Augsburg) and in 1526 (Erfurt).4 The initial impetus for the 1517 publication seems to have come from Georg Spalatin, the Saxon courtier and supporter of Luther in charge of the territory's educational system, especially the university. Spalatin requested that Luther publish his recently completed lectures on the Psalms (1513–1515), but Luther finally responded with this much smaller project.5 His German translation of the seven penitential psalms (Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, and 143) reveals several important aspects of Martin Luther's early biblical interpretation...

Ribosome stalling during selenoprotein translation exposes a ferroptosis vulnerability.

The selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) prevents ferroptosis by converting lipid peroxides into nontoxic lipid alcohols. GPX4 has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment, but some cancer cells are resistant to ferroptosis triggered by GPX4 inhibition. Using a chemical-genetic screen, we identify LRP8 (also known as ApoER2) as a ferroptosis resistance factor that is upregulated in cancer. Loss of LRP8 decreases cellular selenium levels and the expression of a subset of selenoproteins. Counter to the canonical hierarchical selenoprotein regulatory program, GPX4 levels are strongly reduced due to impaired translation. Mechanistically, low selenium levels result in ribosome stalling at the inefficiently decoded GPX4 selenocysteine UGA codon, leading to ribosome collisions, early translation termination and proteasomal clearance of the N-terminal GPX4 fragment. These findings reveal rewiring of the selenoprotein hierarchy in cancer cells and identify ribosome stalling and collisions during GPX4 translation as ferroptosis vulnerabilities in cancer.

An Attempt to Trace the Early Translations of Sangam Literature

An Attempt to Trace the Early Translations of Sangam Literature

Critical time-dependent branching process modelling epidemic spreading with containment measures* *This work celebrates the 70th birthday of our dear friend and colleague Bob Ziff.

During the COVID pandemic, periods of exponential growth of the disease have been mitigated by containment measures that in different occasions have resulted in a power-law growth of the number of cases. The first observation of such behaviour has been obtained from 2020 late spring data coming from China by Ziff and Ziff in reference Ziff and Ziff (2020 Fractal kinetics of COVID-19 pandemic MedRxiv). After this important observation the power-law scaling (albeit with different exponents) has also been observed in other countries during periods of containment of the spread. Early interpretations of these results suggest that this phenomenon might be due to spatial effects of the spread. Here we show that temporal modulations of infectivity of individuals due to containment measures can also cause power-law growth of the number of cases over time. To this end we propose a stochastic well-mixed susceptible-infected-removed model of epidemic spreading in presence of containment measures resulting in a time dependent infectivity and we explore the statistical properties of the resulting branching process at criticality. We show that at criticality it is possible to observe power-law growth of the number of cases with exponents ranging between one and two. Our asymptotic analytical results are confirmed by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Although these results do not exclude that spatial effects might be important in modulating the power-law growth of the number of cases at criticality, this work shows that even well-mixed populations may already feature non trivial power-law exponents at criticality.

Of Spices and Spies: Paradise Lost, Os Lusíadas, and Richard Fanshawe’s Lusiad (1655)

It has long been thought that John Milton’s Paradise Lost (1667) engages with Os Lusíadas (1572), the Portuguese epic written by Luís Vaz de Camões about Vasco da Gama’s 1497–99 voyage from Lisbon to India, and that Milton probably did so using the English Lusiad (1655) produced by the royalist, diplomat, and translator Richard Fanshawe. However, scant attention has been paid to exploring Fanshawe’s treatment of the material Milton is believed to have referenced. This essay illuminates how Fanshawe subtly yet significantly reworked Camões’s poetry, suggesting that the allusions Milton is thought to have made to Os Lusíadas should be viewed as existing—intentionally or otherwise—in conversation with the opinions Fanshawe imbued his translation with too. This essay complicates the established critical perception that Milton was hostile to his Portuguese counterpart by revealing surprising similarities between Milton’s and Camões’s presentation of the spices traded across the early modern world, contending that it is the English Lusiad, not the Iberian original, that exists in opposition to Paradise Lost. This essay further posits that Satan’s address to Chaos in Paradise Lost, an incident that has previously been as read as parodying Camões’s portrayal of global commerce, can profitably also be read in connection with a domestic issue that Fanshawe introduced and that Camões had little to do with—namely, royalist espionage. Overall, this essay extends our understanding of the relationships among Milton, Camões, and Fanshawe, and contributes to the burgeoning fields of study on early modern translation and globalization.

『개역개정』 속 ‘자유’ 어휘의 역사적 변화 양상 연구

This paper studied when the word jayu (자유 meaning freedom/liberty) was used in Bible translations, and the process through which it has arrived at its current use.<BR> First, it was revealed that in comparison of the time when modern concept of freedom was introduced in Korea, jayu was used later in the Bible. The words freedom and liberty from the West were translated as jayu in the East, and jayu in its modern concept was already used in the 1890s in various places like Korean newspapers and so forth. However, this study analyzed that the use of jayu in early Korean Bible translations was very limited, and that it came into wider use only in the KRV (1938).<BR> Second, it was revealed that the phrases expressed as jayu in the NKRV were largely expressed with three different types of vocabulary in earlier translations, and that these merged into jayu only later on.<BR> The three types are as follows: The first refer to cases where initial translations were done as jayu. The word jayu had been used since the pre-modern period to only signify the possibility of acting freely with negative connotation of doing as one pleases; without restraints; in random manner, etc. When referring to matters of behavior, it was translated into jayu or imui (임의 meaning arbitrarily) in early translations.<BR> Next type includes cases where initial translations as jaju (자주 meaning autonomy) later merged into jayu. Jaju emphasizes individual

Impact of human intervention structures on the rivers: An investigation of the spatiotemporal variation of grain size in the Tista River, eastern Himalayas

AbstractIn order to investigate the effect of intervention structures like dams and barrage on the sediment grain size distribution, we examined a ~75 km stretch of the Tista River in the foothill alluvial plain of the eastern Himalayas. However, studies on the impact of dams on streamflow and sediment in the Himalayan rivers are constrained due to inadequate historical gauge data. Therefore, we employed a simple method to track the initial formation of some of the existing river landforms that formed before the dam/barrage operations from yearly satellite images (1987–2017) for in situ sediment sample collection. Hence, the collected sediment grain sizes analysis is used here as a proxy to comprehend the pre‐, syn‐ and post‐dam river sediment‐transport pattern. We have grouped 23 landforms into three temporal clusters: (i) those formed before 1997, earlier than the dams/barrage interventions (TOL); (ii) formed between 1998 and 2010 during the upstream dam construction (TML) and (iii) formed after 2010 (TNL) when upstream dams and the barrage were fully operational. A total of 116 sediment samples from these landforms indicate the overall grain size reduction for TML and TNL sediment due to reservoir sequestration of coarser grains. In comparison, the coarsest TOL sediment with downstream fining trend represents the pristine river condition. The coarsening trend with a poor correlation coefficient of TML is primarily assigned to partial trapping of the coarse bedload and massive sediment generation by the upstream under‐construction dams, resulting in the downstream erosion of the riverbed and transport of the coarser bedload further down. Similarly, post‐dam sediment trapping and controlled flow were responsible for the weaker trend with a distinctly finer size of TNL. The historical satellite images and data on streamflow and suspended sediment reveal that contemporary river behaviour is consistent with the earlier interpretation.

Micuc Isutu Cuiuc Utusi Cucim: The Sator Square and Martín de Murua’s Quechua Palindrome Poem

The friar Martín de Murua (1566?-1615) composed a Quechua palindrome poem as part of an illustrated Andean legend in his first manuscript version (1590) of his chronicle (Historia general del Perú [1616]). The poem faces a depiction by the Andean artist, don Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala (c. 1560s-c. 1616), of a woman sitting in the middle of a four-cornered, enchanted Inca fountain. Murua reimagined Guaman Poma’s image in a form reminiscent of the Latin Rotas-Sator Square. This article considers the confluence of Andean sacredness with early Christian occult beliefs, leaving multiple and divergent interpretations determined by the viewer/reader’s perspective.

Noncovalent interactions: A brief account of a long history

AbstractThe history of noncovalent interactions is outlined, starting with early interpretations of the symmetry of crystals, then with the fast development of coordination chemistry, and of fundamental analyses in the last century. An attempt is made to provide for the practicing scientists who use noncovalent interactions a historical background of the field, paying credit to often forgotten predecessors. A separate section shows that only in the 20th century instrumentation provided a firm basis for the exploration of noncovalent interactions. Selected examples illustrate the early and rather accurate calculations of some noncovalent energies. With the advent of supramolecular chemistry, noncovalent interactions became a mainstream field of science; this allowed further insight into the nature and strength of these seemingly weak forces. Intermolecular interactions in biological systems have also received early attention. As far as possible, exact references are given for the original publications.

The Queen of Sheba in the Sunni Exegetical Tradition

Sunni exegetes repeatedly assert the authority of the Qur’an to explain itself, and the authority of the prophetic tradition (ḥadīth) or early interpretations when explanations cannot be found in the Qur’an. Yet the treatment that the Queen of Sheba receives by the exegetes reveals that, contrary to their assertions, they are influenced by and are products of their cultural and social milieux. This leads to increasingly androcentric accretions in the Sunni exegetical tradition that depart noticeably from the plain reading of the text. Early tafsīrs, such as that of Muqātil ibn Sulaymān (d. 150/767), generally remain more faithful to the literal Qur’anic reading and promulgate a highly positive impression of the Queen of Sheba’s character and leadership style. Later commentaries, however, including those of Ibn Jarīr al-Ṭabarī (d. 310/923) and ‘Imād al-Dīn ibn Kathīr (d. 774/1373), inevitably influenced by their time, seem to present a more androcentric interpretation that diminishes the agency of the Queen.

Translation in the Umayyad Era: Individual Experiences Shaping the Movement

This paper explores the early translation movement in the Arabic-speaking world and the reasons why efforts to translate texts from non-Arabic languages into Arabic during the Umayyad period have largely been overlooked. The current study micro-historically highlights the translation efforts made before, during, and after the Umayyad period (661-750), concluding that Umayyad translation scholars have been overlooked in favor of later Abbasid scholars due to political considerations. Finally, recommendations are made as to future research built upon the current paper to further explore individual historical experiences.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 15 December 2021 / Accepted: 26 January 2022 / Published: 5 March 2022

Buried Scripture and the Interpretation of Ritual

Inference to religion and ritual does not require scripture. Since the early twentieth century, archaeologists have identified hundreds of deposits containing Buddhist scriptures, images and ritual objects throughout the Japanese archipelago, the majority dating to the late Heian period (794–1185 ce). Previous research suggests that scripture was the central feature of these deposits. This article argues that these deposits resulted from a range of highly variable contexts of religious and social practice, not limited to a focus on scripture. I survey early excavations and interpretations of sutra burial and then turn to two main case studies. These examples show that these deposits were complex assemblages that implicated diverse religious meanings, time frames and social actors. Scripture deposits can demonstrate how religious ritual illuminates, underwrites and interweaves variant scales of agency, time and social practice.

Aspergillus terreus Peritonitis in a Child on Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis: A Case Report from Pakistan

Background: Aspergillus peritonitis is a rare, potentially fatal complication of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Several cases of fungal peritonitis (FP) caused by Aspergillus species have been reported worldwide; however, there is a paucity of data from Pakistan. Here, a case of congenital nephrotic syndrome is reported in a patient who progressed to Stage 5 chronic kidney disease when she was 8 years old, which was managed by CAPD and other supportive therapies. The patient developed FP and later succumbed to death despite appropriate management. Early diagnosis and careful interpretation of culture results are, therefore, important for the treatment of these patients. Case presentation: The patient outlined in this case report had congenital nephrotic syndrome, Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, and was on CAPD. She presented with peritonitis. Initially, broad spectrum antibiotics were started, and peritoneal samples did not yield any growth. Later, consecutive peritoneal samples taken from the patient grew Aspergillus terreus, with septate hyphae seen on a direct smear from the sample. Voriconazole was started immediately, and the patients’ catheter was removed. However, the patient’s condition deteriorated and, after prolonged intensive care and high ventilator support, the patient expired. Conclusion: A. terreus is an uncommon and deadly pathogen that does not respond to the commonly used antifungal treatments such as amphotericin B. The treatment of CAPD-related FP requires early diagnosis and the use of newer drugs such as voriconazole or caspofungin.

Review: Arab Conquests and Early Islamic Historiography: The Futuh al-Buldan of al-Baladhuri, by Ryan J. Lynch

Review: <i>Arab Conquests and Early Islamic Historiography: The Futuh al-Buldan of al-Baladhuri</i>, by Ryan J. Lynch

Licentious Fictions: Ninjō and the Nineteenth-Century Japanese Novel by Daniel Poch

Reviewed by: Licentious Fictions: Ninjō and the Nineteenth-Century Japanese Novel by Daniel Poch Hoyt Long (bio) Licentious Fictions: Ninjō and the Nineteenth-Century Japanese Novel. By Daniel Poch. Columbia University Press, 2020. xii, 290 pages. $65.00, cloth; $64.99, E-book. "Novels are like morphine," says the narrator of Tsubouchi Shōyō's Shinmigaki: Imotose kagami (1885–86): "one must love them, but also fear them." They are loved as a window onto the highs and lows of human emotion, but [End Page 234] also feared for exposing these very depths and arousing our basest desires. This idea of fiction as a potent drug—a source of self-realization and blinding addiction—is the animating metaphor of Daniel Poch's Licentious Fictions: Ninjō and the Nineteenth-Century Japanese Novel. The book adds to a growing body of research by Jonathan Zwicker, Atsuko Ueda, Robert Tuck, Brian Dowdle, and others that has revolutionized how we read across Japan's long nineteenth century by emphasizing continuities in cultural ideas and aesthetic forms rather than sharp epistemological breaks centered at the Tokugawa-Meiji divide. Poch's contribution to this revisionist history is to interrogate a dichotomy that has structured literary periodization across this divide—one between moral didacticism and enlightened reason on the one hand, and emotional realism and uncontrolled passion on the other. He reframes this dichotomy as the beating heart of Japanese prose fiction throughout the "continuous literary space" (p. 9) of the nineteenth century, and indeed as constitutive of this space. Licentious Fictions shows how major writers working in this space similarly wrestled with fiction's capacity to educate and titillate, and Poch uses this struggle to overturn normative characterizations of their stories as merely licentious or merely didactic. The imperatives to entertain and inform, it turns out, are complexly woven through them. The analogy of novels and fiction to morphine relies on a double vision that sees them as capable of civilizing and degrading social mores. Licentious Fictions sets out to sketch the discursive contours of this double vision, one that forced many nineteenth-century authors to "negotiate a fundamental ambivalence" between the intention to represent emotion for didactic purposes and the fear that doing so would backfire, disrupting the social order by exposing readers to base emotions and desires (p. 4). How does one administer the drug of literature without turning one's patients (readers) into addicts? Poch seeks to show how narrative strategies developed in response to this ambivalence, whose antecedents are found in Genji monogatari and Neoconfucian views of poetry, evolved with the rise and fall of popular genres and with Japan's shifting position in the world republic of letters. The result is a series of careful and deeply contextualized readings of both canonical and lesser-known works, from Tamenaga Shunsui's Shunshoku ume goyomi (1832–33) to Natsume Sōseki's Kusamakura (1906). In-between he examines Kyokutei Bakin's epic Hakkenden (1814–42), Niwa Jun'ichirō's translation of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's Ernest Maltravers (Karyū shunwa, 1878–79), and a number of Shōyō's early translations and works of original fiction from the 1880s. Each work is meticulously situated within larger conversations about literature's value as either didactic instrument or degrading entertainment. Poch is especially interested in how these conversations contend with the representation of ninjō, which he narrowly defines as "male-female love and desire," including sexual desire (p. 15). These conversations generate a fundamental [End Page 235] ambivalence that each author negotiates in his own way (the writers analyzed are all male), and through which Poch reads their narratives against the dominant generic grain. For Shunsui's Ume g oyomi, a masterwork of the ninjōbon genre known for its depictions of erotic encounters in the pleasure quarters, this means reframing it as a work that, at its ideological core, harbored a clear didactic intent. Specifically, it characterized a shift toward a "scholar and beauty paradigm" influenced by licentious fiction from China such as the Jingpingmei and newly invested in plots "dramatizing the chastity, faithfulness, and sincerity, often against adverse circumstances, of morally exemplary male and female protagonists in love" (p. 49). Umegoyomi naturally depicts the...