Lafcadio Hearn's Japan: An Anthology of His Writings on the Country and Its People (Tuttle Classics of Japanese Literature)

This collection of writings from Lafcaido Hern paints a rare and fascinating picture of pre-modern Japan Over a century after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcaido Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. Almost more Japanese than the Japanese—"to think with their thoughts" was his aim—his prolific writings on things Japanese were instrumental in introducing Japanese culture to the West. In this masterful anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable and enthusiastic observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of late nineteen-century Japan. Opening and closing with excerpts from Hearn's final books, Richie's astute selection from among "over 4,000 printed pages" not including correspondence and other writing, also reveals Hearn's later, more sober and reflective attitudes to the things that he observed and wrote about. Part One, "The Land," chronicles Hearn's early years when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his adopted home. Part Two, "The People," records the author's later years when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves. In this anthology, Richie, more gifted in capturing the essence of a person on the page than any other foreign writer living in Japan, has picked out the best of Hearn's evocations. Select writings include: The Chief City of the Province of the Gods Three Popular Ballads In the Cave of the Children's Ghosts Bits of Life and Death A Street Singer Kimiko On A Bridge This collection of writings from Lafcaido Hern paints a rare and fascinating picture of pre-modern Japan

Over a century after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcaido Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. Almost more Japanese than the Japanese--"to think with their thoughts" was his aim--his prolific writings on things Japanese were instrumental in introducing Japanese culture to the West.

In this masterful anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable and enthusiastic observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of late nineteen-century Japan. Opening and closing with excerpts from Hearn's final books, Richie's astute selection from among "over 4,000 printed pages" not including correspondence and other writing, also reveals Hearn's later, more sober and reflective attitudes to the things that he observed and wrote about.

Part One, "The Land," chronicles Hearn's early years when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his adopted home. Part Two, "The People," records the author's later years when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves. In this anthology, Richie, more gifted in capturing the essence of a person on the page than any other foreign writer living in Japan, has picked out the best of Hearn's evocations.

Select writings include:

• The Chief City of the Province of the Gods
• Three Popular Ballads
• In the Cave of the Children's Ghosts
• Bits of Life and Death
• A Street Singer
• Kimiko
• On A Bridge

Nearly one hundred years after his death, author, translator, and educator Lafcadio Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. His prolific writings on things Japanese helped shape Western views on Japan well into the 20th century. Yet as influential as he was, critical opinion of his work varies widely. To some, he is Japan's greatest interpreter; to others, he is the country's ultimate apologist. In this new anthology, Donald Richie shows that Hearn was first and foremost a reliable observer, who faithfully recorded a detailed account of the people, customs, and culture of turn-of-the-century Japan. Through his selections, Richie also suggests that Hearn tempered his style and altered his perceptions over time to more accurately reflect the world in which he lived.

Over one hundred years after his death, author, translator and educator Lafcadio Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. His prolific writings on things Japanese helped shape Western views on Japan well into the twentieth century.

This masterful anthology compiled by Donald Richie is organized into two parts.

Part One, "The Land", chronicles Hearn's early years, when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his new home.
Part Two, "The People", records the author's later years, when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves.

Over one hundred years after his death, author, translator and educator Lafcadio Hearn remains one of the best-known Westerners ever to make Japan his home. His prolific writings on things Japanese helped shape Western views on Japan well into the twentieth century. This masterful anthology compiled by Donald Richie is organized into two parts. Part One, "The Land", chronicles Hearn's early years, when he wrote primarily about the appearance of his new home. Part Two, "The People", records the author's later years, when he came to terms with the Japanese themselves Contents 6 Preface 8 Introduction 10 PART ONE The Land 18 Strangeness and Charm 24 The Chief City of the Province of the Gods 34 In a Japanese Garden 61 Three Popular Ballads 93 In the Cave of the Children’s Ghosts 99 A Letter from Japan 114 Horai 128 PART TWO The People 132 Bits of Life and Death 140 Of Women’s Hair 156 A Street Singer 166 Kimiko 170 Yuko: A Reminiscence 180 On a Bridge 186 The Case of O-Dai 190 Drifting 196 Diplomacy 203 A Passional Karma 206 Survivals 227 Notes 236 Chronology 247 Glossary 249 Bibliography 254