3 Review(s)

The Elephant Vanishes is an extraordinary collection of short stories by bestselling Japanese author, Haruki Murakami. Summary of the Book The Elephant Vanishes is a collection of 17 beautiful and witty short stories, written between 1980 and 1991. These were published in Japan in various magazines then collections and were translated in English by Alfred Birnbaum and Jay Rubin. The stories align with Murakami’s earlier works, focusing on painful issues involving loss, destruction, confusion and loneliness. Some of the stories included in the book are Sleep, Barn Burning, A Window, TV People and The Elephant Vanishes, among others. Haunting, hilarious and witty, The Elephant Vanishes is a fine example of Murakami's ability to intertwine normality with surrealism. About Haruki Murakami Haruki Murakami is a contemporary Japanese author. Some of his most notable works include A Wild Sheep Chase, Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore. He has been honored with several awards including World Fantasy Award, Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award and Franz Kafka Prize (2006).