Rashomon brings us to twelfth-century Japan, a country plagued by wars, hunger and despair, a perfect setting in which the disturbing complexities of human existence are shown to the reader with a brutality not without beauty. Akutagawa has transcended the boundaries of time and space and has placed himself in the history of universal literature as one of the great masters of the story. His brilliant narrative talent, his sophisticated and elegant style, his extreme sensitivity and his ability to unravel the darkest and most complex aspects of human nature, make his works truly timeless jewels and elevate his author to the category of genius of letters.