The Floating World by novelist James A. Michener is a classic work on the Japanese print of the Edo period (1615-1868). Mr. Michener shows how the Japanese printmakers, cut off from revivifying contacts with the art of the rest of the world and hampered by their own governmental restrictions, were able to keep their art vital for two centuries through their vigor and determination.

For this new edition, Howard A. Link updates the scholarship and expands on many theoretical aspects introduced in Michener's study.

Weltweit hat der Islam 1,6 Milliarden Anhanger. Damit ist er nach dem Christentum die zweitgrote Religion. Doch gerade im Westen gibt es viele Vorbehalte und viele Vorurteile gegenuber dem Glauben. Bereits 1955 hat der beruhmte Schriftsteller James A. Michener (1907-1997) daher den hier vorliegenden Text geschrieben. Heute ist er aktueller denn je. Das Buchlein eignet sich als Einstieg, um die Herkunft und das Wesen des Islams kennenzulernen - auch als Geschenk.

Islam represents more than 1.6 billion believers worldwide. Thereby it is the second largest religion behind Christians. But there are many reservations and prejudices with regard to this belief in particular in the western world. Because of that the famous author James A. Michener (1907-1997) wrote the following text already in 1955. Trying to understand the characteristics of Islam is today more topical than ever. This booklet, getting for yourself or giving as a present, is suitable to start in this way, that you will be able to know the origin and nature of Islam.