noun
collection of interesting stories; book of anecdotes
Refers to a compilation or body of engaging tales, often historical or literary. Can denote either the stories themselves or a physical book containing them. Somewhat literary and not an everyday word.
彼は古今東西の談叢を読み漁っている。
He devours collections of interesting stories from all times and places.
この談叢には江戸時代の奇談が多く収められている。
This book of anecdotes contains many strange tales from the Edo period.
Compound of 談 (talk, story) and 叢 (collection, thicket). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word likely emerged in literary contexts to describe compilations of tales.