What do you think?
Rate this book
砂の器 下
人間は背負った宿命から逃れることはできない。
善良この上ない元巡査を殺害した犯人は誰か？ そして前衛劇団の俳優と女事務員殺しの犯人は？ 今西刑事は東北地方の聞込み先で見かけた“ヌーボー・グループ”なる新進芸術家たちの動静を興味半分で見守るうちに断片的な事実が次第に脈絡を持ち始めたことに気付く……新進芸術家として栄光の座につこうとする青年の暗い過去を追う刑事の艱難辛苦を描く本格的推理長編である。
善良この上ない元巡査を殺害した犯人は誰か？ そして前衛劇団の俳優と女事務員殺しの犯人は？ 今西刑事は東北地方の聞込み先で見かけた“ヌーボー・グループ”なる新進芸術家たちの動静を興味半分で見守るうちに断片的な事実が次第に脈絡を持ち始めたことに気付く……新進芸術家として栄光の座につこうとする青年の暗い過去を追う刑事の艱難辛苦を描く本格的推理長編である。
506 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 1973
28 people want to read
About the author
Seichō Matsumoto
591 books654 followersSeicho Matsumoto (松本清張, Matsumoto Seichō), December 21, 1909 – August 4, 1992) was a Japanese writer.
Matsumoto's works created a new tradition of Japanese crime fiction. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Matsumoto incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life into his crime fiction. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Matsumoto did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Matsumoto's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Matsumoto became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970); Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989) and Kiri no hata (1961; Pro Bono, 2012), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitarō Nomura on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand.
Matsumoto's works created a new tradition of Japanese crime fiction. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Matsumoto incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life into his crime fiction. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Matsumoto did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Matsumoto's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Matsumoto became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970); Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989) and Kiri no hata (1961; Pro Bono, 2012), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitarō Nomura on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 12, 2024
A really good detective stories that was written in 1960s but you won’t really sense that during the read, especially author leveraged different kind of knowledge: Japanese, history, music, science in one single story. Beside the mysterious part it also expresses the challenges of young to be successful in Japan’s that time, along with discrimination on some of the people (poor, sick, disabled, etc.), I think we’ve improved a lot in 21st century but still it resonates a lot in the modern society!
素敵なストーリー、60年代に書かれたと思わない、ミステリーの部分は現代のように読者に引っかかるのが魅力的👍🏻かつ作者が色んな知識を持って、例えば日本語語学、芸術、音楽、科学様々な分野でストーリーが一層展開してた😊ハンセン氏病が書かれた時代だが、今でも他の物例えば女性とか差別されることが変わらないだろう？
素敵なストーリー、60年代に書かれたと思わない、ミステリーの部分は現代のように読者に引っかかるのが魅力的👍🏻かつ作者が色んな知識を持って、例えば日本語語学、芸術、音楽、科学様々な分野でストーリーが一層展開してた😊ハンセン氏病が書かれた時代だが、今でも他の物例えば女性とか差別されることが変わらないだろう？
August 12, 2011
Par II of the classic by Matsumoto Seicho. Although it was long, it was definitely worth reading both parts. Looking forward to seeing the movie.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews