Jun'ichiro Tanizaki is one of the most prominent Japanese writers of the twentieth century. This book presents three powerful stories of family from the first decade of Tanizaki's career. Written in different genres, they are united by a focus on mothers and sons and a concern for Japan's traditional culture in the face of Westernization. A kind of master class in voice . . . The world of literature is much richer now that Longing and Other Stories is available for English readers.