Kusamakura
Kusamakura by Natsume Soseki is a major novel that presents a new English translation, the first in over forty years, published by National Geographic Books on January 29, 2008. This 176-page work follows a nameless young artist-narrator on a wandering journey through the mountains, where he encounters Nami, the beautiful daughter of a hot spring inn. The narrative explores the artist’s interactions with Nami, who serves as the focal point of this elegant story, reflecting Soseki’s unique style and perspective.
Readers will find that Kusamakura delves into themes of beauty and introspection, capturing the essence of old Japan through its lyrical prose. The novel is characterized by its psychological depth and literary elegance, as it intertwines the artist’s experiences with the serene mountain landscape. This edition invites readers to appreciate Soseki’s exploration of human connection and the subtleties of courtship, all while embracing the tranquil setting that defines this classic work.
Official synopsis Publisher
A stunning new English translation—the first in more than forty years—of a major novel by the father of modern Japanese fiction
Natsume Soseki’s Kusamakura—meaning “grass pillow”—follows its nameless young artist-narrator on a meandering walking tour of the mountains. At the inn at a hot spring resort, he has a series of mysterious encounters with Nami, the lovely young daughter of the establishment. Nami, or “beauty,” is the center of this elegant novel, the still point around which the artist moves and the enigmatic subject of Soseki’s word painting. In the author’s words, Kusamakura is “a haiku-style novel, that lives through beauty.” Written at a time when Japan was opening its doors to the rest of the world, Kusamakura turns inward, to the pristine mountain idyll and the taciturn lyricism of its courtship scenes, enshrining the essence of old Japan in a work of enchanting literary nostalgia.
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