The carnival theme is especially strong here, and perhaps the most emblematic and powerful of these works is "Spirit of the Carnival (The British forces of law and order in confrontation with an ancient African Spirit)" (1982) by Tam Joseph, an artist from the tiny island of Dominica.

WSJ: Caribbean: Crossroads of the World | Tropical Ambition | By Tom L. Freudenheim

One puzzle is why, if Hirohito believed in kokutai and the spirit of Yamato (ancient Japan), did he not kill himself on surrendering, as his loyal prime minister, General Tojo, tried to do?

ECONOMIST: A god dethroned

But, at their best, the writers anthologised here catch something of the spirit of their times, particularly when they adopt the ancient poetic voice of satire.

ECONOMIST: Encapsulating a century in verse