The Memory Police

Vintage Japanese Classics – following the success of the first chapter of the Vintage Japanese Classics series, come four new covetable editions of the best Japanese writers on the Vintage list.

On an unnamed island, objects are disappearing: first hats, then ribbons, birds, roses...

To the people on the island, a disappeared thing no longer has any meaning. It can be burned in the garden, thrown in the river, or handed over to the Memory Police. Soon enough, the island forgets it ever existed.

When a young novelist discovers that her editor is in danger of being taken away by the Memory Police, she desperately wants to save him. For some reason, he doesn't forget, and it's becoming increasingly difficult for him to hide his memories. Who knows what will vanish next?

Vintage Japanese Classics – nine masterpieces of Japanese fiction in gorgeous new gift editions.

Beautiful... Haunting – Sunday Times

This timeless fable of control and loss feels more timely than ever – Guardian

A dreamlike story of dystopia – Jia Tolentino

What readers are saying

'I cried... cracking ending' – 5-star reader review

'I loved it!' – 5-star reader review

'A must read' – 5-star reader review

'Worth 6 stars... what a novel!' – 5-star reader review

'Dark and unsettling – a fantastic read' – 5-star reader review

Translated by Stephen Snyder