The Secret History of the Lord of Musashi and Arrowroot

Jun'ichiro Tanizaki. North Point Press, $10.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-86547-470-3

A lord is perversely fascinated with severed heads in ``The Secret History . . . '' while a legend-haunted village near Kyoto is explored in the nostalgic ``Arrowroot.'' According to PW, ``These novellas, albeit very different in stamp, richly exhibit . . . stylistic grace, humor, a fascination with feminine psychology and masterly storytelling.'' (May)

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