Rediscovering Natsume Sōseki: With the First English Translation of Travels in Manchuria and Korea. Celebrating the Centenary of Sōseki's Arrival in England 1900-1902

by Natsume Sōseki, Inger Brodey (Translator), Sammy I. Tsunematsu (Translator)

First publication in English of Soseki s travels through Manchuria on the then recently-acquired South Manchurian Railway. 6-week travelogue including boat from Osaka to Dairen, railway up the Liaodong Peninsular to Fushun. Many descriptions of Manchuria. It is a lively, informative and sometimes very funny narrative, which reveals Soseki's wit and Western-style humour in observing the human condition, as well as the literary techniques that characterize his subsequent achievements in shaping the modern Japanese novel. The Introduction by Inger Sigrun Brodey provides both a new perspective on Soseki the man and writer, as well as an insightful commentary on the SMR journey itself and the place of the travelogue in Soseki's writings. A selection of Sammy Tsumematsu's collection of previously unpublished photographs of Soseki is also included."

Genres: Nonfiction, Japanese Literature

156 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2000

About the author

Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石), born Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目 金之助), was a Japanese novelist. He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, I Am a Cat and his unfinished work Light and Darkness. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, kanshi, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note. In Japan, he is often considered the greatest writer in modern Japanese history. He has had a profound effect on almost all important Japanese writers since.

Reviews

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The tinkling of a mug of tea filled me with fury. Why do people eat? They are animals who act contrary to reason. There is nothing wrong with just sucking ice cubes. Ice is innocence itself - and more than sufficient. Such, at least, was my impression at that moment.'

The most accurate account of what it's like to try and enjoy travelling while you feel poorly that I've ever read.