Botchan - Hardcover

Natsume Soseki

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0870111698 ISBN 13: 9780870111693

Synopsis

In Soseki Natsume's 1906 novel Botchan, the title character moves from the modern Tokyo to the more traditional city of Matsuyama to pursue a position teaching mathematics. Botchan interacts with a scheming colleague and mischievous students, and the reader questions, throughout the novel, whether he will stay true to his moral self or become corrupted by his fellow teacher. The novel alludes to an increasing westernization of Japan, and is an engaging foray into the consequences of such a change.

About this title

Review

The hilarious tale of a young man's rebellion against the system. "This rollicking rebel and the spice and pace of the narrative will appeal to parent, teacher, and schoolchild alike."

About the Author

Soseki Natsume was born in Tokyo in 1867, and upon graduating from the prestigious Tokyo University, worked as an English teacher for a time. He was sent to London for three years by the Japanese government in 1900 on the first English literary scholarship, where he developed a love for Shakespeare. Returning to take up a position at Tokyo University, he began his writing career with Botchan. This is one of his most famous works, along with I Am a Cat and Kokoro. Soseki enjoyed tremendous popularity before his death in 1916 and his works are always cited as among the best in Japanese literature.

When Japanese readers and critics are asked which authors they admire, SosekiAEs name frequently appears at the top of the list. He is also the only Japanese author referred to by his personal name (Soseki) and not his family name (Natsume), and his image appears on the Japanese 1000 yen note.

Dennis Washburn is Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Languages and Literatures and Comparative Literature at Dartmouth College. He is the author of "Translating Mount Fuji: Modern Japanese Fiction" and "The Ethics of Identity" and translator of "Temple of the Wild Geese" and "Bamboo Dolls of Echizen".

Edition details

• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0870111698
• ISBN 13: 9780870111693
• Binding: Hardcover