The Real Osamu Dazai: A Life in Twenty Stories

by Osamu Dazai, James O'Brien (Introduction, Translator)

Best-known for his novels No Longer Human and The Setting Sun, Dazai was also an acclaimed writer of short stories, experimenting with a wide variety of styles and bringing to each work a sophisticated sense of humor, a broad empathy for the human condition and a tremendous literary talent. The twenty stories in this collection include:

• Memories — An autobiographical tale in which Dazai relates episodes from his own childhood and adolescence, showing his relationship with his family and his tendency towards introspection and self-dramatization

• On the Question of Apparel — A comic tour-de-force in which Dazai examines the hold that fashion has over him and how it relates to his own pathetic self-image

• A Poor Man's Got His Pride — A retelling of a story by 18th-century master of burlesque fiction Ihara Saikaku, about a fallen samurai who lives in poverty

• The Sound of Hammering — A love story set against the backdrop of the rebuilding of Tokyo after the city was totally destroyed during World War Two

• And sixteen other stories!

By turns hilarious, ironic, introspective, mystical and sarcastic, these stories present a fully rounded portrait of a talented writer who tried several times to take his own life and ultimately succeeded. An introduction by translator James O'Brien gives the background to Dazai's life and shows how the stories in this book, whether autobiographical or fictional, contribute to an understanding of one of Japan's greatest writers.

Genres: Japan, Literature

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 24, 2024

About the author

Osamu DAZAI (native name: 太宰治, real name Shūji Tsushima) was a Japanese author who is considered one of the foremost fiction writers of 20th-century Japan. A number of his most popular works, such as Shayō (The Setting Sun) and Ningen Shikkaku (No Longer Human), are considered modern-day classics in Japan.
With a semi-autobiographical style and transparency into his personal life, Dazai’s stories have intrigued the minds of many readers. His books also bring about awareness to a number of important topics such as human nature, mental illness, social relationships, and postwar Japan.

Reviews

[sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tuttle Classics has attempted to create a collection of-mostly-autobiographical stories by Osamu Dazai. I think they've succeeded very well, as each story seemed to be dripping with juxtapositions or flat out confessions that he is one of the characters. From stories about going to his childhood home, to stories of monkeys in a zoo, each one has a part of him carefully hidden into the stories.

Dazai continuously explores the theme of his mixed feelings towards his home from his younger years. In Homecoming and Monkey Island this becomes increasingly prevalent. He yearns for the days long gone, but also fears and resents them. He had created this ideal version of it in his head and as time goes on, it becomes more obvious that it's not true and is never coming to fruition. He has simply tricked himself into believing that he used to enjoy being there.

We once again see more and more of Dazai's true nature and as is custom with his books, we learn more of his internal struggles. These collected stories manage to display him very well and show "the real Osamu Dazai".


bye this was so low effort give me a break idk how to review collections of stories

[Carrot Gal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid collection of stories, would’ve been a 4/5 if it weren’t for the sprinkled bits of misogyny, especially with the last story being a big reminder of it. I do acknowledge my lack of knowledge of culture and society at that time when I say that though. My favorites were On the Question of Apparel, Das Gemeine, and Heed My Plea. I will also think about The Sound of Hammering and The Monkey’s Mound a lot, those will really stick with me. I really appreciate his exploration of emotionality, insecurity, and indifference using lots of self deprivation to add sprinkles of comedy. There’s a range of sad reflection to nonchalant bleakness sprinkled with his comedic relief. Really enjoyable set of stories with interesting writing where he jumps around from story telling to completely breaking the fourth wall. I liked how there’s a blur between himself and his characters, where I leave completely unsure of just how reflective he’s being of himself or not. He makes it impossible to separate the writer from the story telling, even when he’s not breaking the fourth wall, and I enjoyed that challenge of questioning when reading. Thanks king (please respect women tho)

[Alan M · Rating 5 out of 5]

'But life is not a drama, and no one knows the second act.'

An essential addition to anyone with an interest in Osamu Dazai. It's almost impossible to read Dazai without his life story in the back of your mind, and this collection of stories, by their very nature, continually focus on self-image and introspection. The collection ranges from the very auto-fiction stories at the beginning, but develop in style into myth-making and elements of comedy. An excellent introduction by the translator James O'Brien gives an excellent overview of Dazai's life and how this selection illustrates the various aspects of the man.

One to dip into and return, appreciating this extraordinary writer and celebrating the works that he left behind.