The Pine IslandsWhen Gilbert Silvester, a journeyman lecturer on beard fashions in film, awakes one day from a dream that his wife has cheated on him, he fleesimmediately, irrationally, inexplicablyfor Japan. In Tokyo, he discovers the travel writings of the great Japanese poet Basho. Suddenly, from Gilbert's directionless crisis, there emerges a purpose: a pilgrimage in the footsteps of the poet to see the moon rise over the pine islands of Matsushima. Falling into