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Tama
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2007
3 people want to read
About the author
Onoto Watanna
91 books4 followersOnoto Watanna is a pseudonym for Winnifred Eaton (her maiden name) or Winnifred Eaton Reeve (her married name).
From Onoto Watanna: The Story of Winnifred Eaton
"In 1901, the young Winnifred Eaton arrived in New York City with literary ambitions, journalistic experience, and the manuscript for A Japanese Nightingale, the novel that would sell many thousands of copies and make her famous. Hers is a real Horatio Alger story, with fascinating added dimensions of race and gender."
From Onoto Watanna: The Story of Winnifred Eaton
"In 1901, the young Winnifred Eaton arrived in New York City with literary ambitions, journalistic experience, and the manuscript for A Japanese Nightingale, the novel that would sell many thousands of copies and make her famous. Hers is a real Horatio Alger story, with fascinating added dimensions of race and gender."
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 27, 2014
Rating this book at two stars is a bit of a compromise, as the most interesting parts of it are not in the novel itself. Tama is, taken at face value, an example of the early 20th century romantic novel, done up in the lurid Asian trappings popular in some quarters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It has aged poorly, and I now find it of far more interest as a historical example.
Over the course of reading the book (over a long weekend without access to the internet) I found myself wondering exactly who wrote this book. It's form was wholly western, and the story was clearly written for a Western (likely American, like it's protagonist) audience. However, the author spoke of internal Japanese politics of the 19th century in such detail that it was clear that whoever the author was, they had either lived their or done their research well. I found myself placing mental bets over whether Tama was the product of an American sensationalist, a Meiji-era propagandist, or someone else entirely. The true story is far more interesting than anything I thought up.
Onoto Watanna was the pen name of a Canadian woman named Winnifred Eaton, the daughter of an English businessman and the adopted Chinese daughter of missionaries. She apparently had a rather successful career as an author, writing for periodicals, the stage, and the screen in addition to her successful romances and short stories. I had heard nothing about this woman before, and I consider myself enriched by knowing she existed.
In short, a one-star book and a three-star bit of edification. I'll call it two.
Over the course of reading the book (over a long weekend without access to the internet) I found myself wondering exactly who wrote this book. It's form was wholly western, and the story was clearly written for a Western (likely American, like it's protagonist) audience. However, the author spoke of internal Japanese politics of the 19th century in such detail that it was clear that whoever the author was, they had either lived their or done their research well. I found myself placing mental bets over whether Tama was the product of an American sensationalist, a Meiji-era propagandist, or someone else entirely. The true story is far more interesting than anything I thought up.
Onoto Watanna was the pen name of a Canadian woman named Winnifred Eaton, the daughter of an English businessman and the adopted Chinese daughter of missionaries. She apparently had a rather successful career as an author, writing for periodicals, the stage, and the screen in addition to her successful romances and short stories. I had heard nothing about this woman before, and I consider myself enriched by knowing she existed.
In short, a one-star book and a three-star bit of edification. I'll call it two.
Displaying 1 of 1 review