Book recommendation

[Kenitai]

I've been, sadly isolating myself mostly from the outside life, focusing on my manga and working harshly on it, and by the time I'm ready I will probably go to a publisher. However, while I'm still working at it, I'd like to know what the best few (or the one) historic literature/book about tales, legends and lore about Japan. And I'm talking about story books, and no documents regarding events that happened or some sort.

I'm never good at reading (European)books, yet I'd like to put all of my interests in Japanese books with historical content. Mythelogical kind of
books though would be best.

If anybody knows what books to suggest, please do so!

[richvh]

What language do you want the book to be in? The best are almost certainly going to be in Japanese...

I'd like a good book on Japanese folklore and mythological beings, and I don't care if it's in Japanese or English. (I've got a few ideas on what to write about after finishing up ゆきの物語, and I'd like to work in a more mythological setting, include other beings besides 狐, 鬼 and a bare mention of 天狗.)

[Kenitai]

If it were in Japanese, it wouldn't be a serious issue, infact that'd boost both interest in the content and language.
As long as there are　ogres, mystical foxes, or goblins, I'm fine with it. A mystical world.

[richvh]

Well, while you're waiting for other recommendations, you could try ゆきの物語. It's not done yet, but a couple of the supporting characters are shape-shifting 狐 (one is turning into a major character), and there are battles with two different 鬼 The setting is somewhat historical, but left vague.

[Kenitai]

I'll surely try it, thanks.

[hungryhotei]

芋粥 isn't that much of a mythological story, but it does feature a 狐 and historical content. Plus it's quite short and well worth a read if you haven't already.

[Kenitai]

Thanks for the link! It'll keep me busy for qiete some time... Both of them.

[richvh]

Hungryhotei's recommendation looks like more of a challenge than mine... prewar orthography (what's ゐる? 居る by the looks of it...)

[Yudan Taiteki]

Yes. 背景になつてゐると云ふ事 = 背景になっていると云う（言う）事

Aozora has modern kana for most of Akutagawa's works, but not Imogayu for some reason.