Geisha: The Life, the Voices, the Art

by Jodi Cobb

Book Overview

Here, brought vividly to life, is an icon of Japanese culture and custom--the geisha in her role as human work of art and perfect woman. A hundred years ago geisha numbered eighty thousand; today... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679437746
• ISBN13: 9780679437741
• Release Date: November 1995
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
• Length: 115 Pages
• Weight: 2.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 11.5" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

Enchanting!

This book is absolutely beautiful. Not a whole lot of information, but the scenes depicted are a window into a world closed to most everyone. The quotes from the Geisha are quite interesting, as well.

This isn't fiction; this is real!

Subtitled, "The Life, the Voices, the Art," this book of exquisite photographs by Jodi Cobb, a National Geographic photographer depicts both the public and the private moments of traditional geisha in modern-day Kyoto and Tokyo. A hundred year ago, there were more than 80,000 traditional geisha in Japan; today there are less a thousand. This vanishing way of life, captured in both words and photographs, will introduce the realities of the very special world to the western reader. We learn the history and understand the fantasy. We see the faces with and without makeup, including some stirring photos of elderly geisha with their white makeup emphasizing every line in their faces. And we hear their voices as they share their life stories. This isn't fiction. This is real. There are 77 full color photographs in this 11.5 x 10.5" book that is just 114 pages long. I read it one sitting, thirsting for more. Highly recommended.

Art and journalism

Jodi Cobb's "Geisha" is stunning. It is stunning visually, which anyone can see just leafing casually through it. But it is also a stunning journalistic accomplishment. This is not the first time Cobb has gone behind the closed doors of female society. She did a story for National Geographic, where she is a staff photographer, on Arab women. Like the Geisha book, it was an intimate and loving look at the lives of women usually hidden from us behind veils. The Geisha book gives us way more than the superficial beauty shots that usually pass for a look at Geisha life. We see them (quite literally) with their hair down. Which is, after all, what good journalism does. Enjoy the book just for the art if you like. Cobb takes photos with handheld, 35mm cameras using nothing but available light and makes them look like the work of a Flemish master. But also know that you are getting a glimpse of a world few women -- and no men -- can ever know.

Exquisite pictures, enlightening text

I first read about the Geisha in the National Geographic magazine; when the book came out I decided to buy it. I am glad I did. The pictures are simply exquisite and oustandingly beautiful. Ms. Cobb did an excellent job document the geisha's life with her words and photographs. I'd recommend it to anyone interested in photojournalism or simply curious about geishas or japanese culture.

Fabulous!

This is a fabulous book about a secret and vanishing world few of us will ever experience firsthand. After reading Kobb's article in National Geographic Magazine, I had to buy this book. The photographs are wonderful, and the accompanying interviews with various Geishas and clients give the reader a glimpse of what Geisha life is all about.