The Wooing of Wistaria follows the life of a vicarious and bubbly
young Japanese woman, Lady Wistaria. Beginning with her presentation to
high society, Wistaria reflects on her experience meeting the court.
Accompanied by her aunt, who was her guardian, Wistaria visits the
capitol city for the first time, enamored by the sights. She enters the
court knowing all that was expected of her. The court is in awe of her
beauty, but when Wistaria makes a small mistake, she is immediately
shamed. Though Wistaria is kind, beautiful, and full of personality, she
is consistently judged throughout her life for her qualities that
conflict with society's standards. This is especially evident in her
relationship to her father, who is a stoic and harsh man. Dedicated to
upholding the social expectations and etiquette, Wistaria's father is
tough on her, and despite her reflections, Wistaria never really
understands why.
Through the depiction of Lady Wistaria's life, The Wooing of Wistaria
by Onoto Watanna provides representation of Asian heritage and aspects
of 20th century Japanese society, allowing readers a privileged
perspective into the culture. Featuring beautiful and detailed
descriptions of Japanese landscapes, the physical environment of Japan
is represented as vividly as the cultural and social atmosphere. With
themes of gender and sexuality, The Wooing of Wistaria is
thought-provoking and enlightening on the constructs of Asian
femininity. Through the characterization of Lady Wistaria, The Wooing
of Wistaria portrays a bright and cheery young woman who does not fit
the role she is expected to fill.
First published in the early years of the 20th century, The Wooing of
Wistaria by Onoto Watanna has rarely been in print since its original
publication. This special edition features a stunning cover design and
is printed in an easy-to-read font. With these accommodations, this
edition caters to contemporary readers by restoring the novel to modern
standards while preserving the original intricacy of Onoto Watanna's
work.
