Botchan (Master Darling)

Natsume Soseki

2022년 11월 · Otbebookpublishing

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Excerpt: "Because of an hereditary recklessness, I have been playing always a losing game since my childhood. During my grammar school days, I was once laid up for about a week by jumping from the second story of the school building. Some may ask why I committed such a rash act. There was no particular reason for doing such a thing except I happened to be looking out into the yard from the second floor of the newly-built school house, when one of my classmates, joking, shouted at me; "Say, you big bluff, I'll bet you can't jump down from there! O, you chicken-heart, ha, ha!" So I jumped down. The janitor of the school had to carry me home on his back, and when my father saw me, he yelled derisively, "What a fellow you are to go and get your bones dislocated by jumping only from a second story!""

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Natsume Soseki, born Natsume Kinnosuke in 1867, is a towering figure in Japanese literature, whose works continue to resonate with readers worldwide. Soseki's early life was marked by personal turmoil, including being adopted and later reclaimed by his biological family, experiences that profoundly influenced his introspective and often melancholic writing style. Educated at Tokyo Imperial University, Soseki initially pursued a career in English literature, which led him to study in London from 1900 to 1902. His time in England was fraught with loneliness and cultural dissonance, but it also exposed him to Western literary traditions, which he adeptly blended with Japanese sensibilities upon his return. This cross-cultural synthesis became a hallmark of his work, setting him apart from his contemporaries.Soseki's literary contributions extend beyond his novels; he was also a respected scholar and critic. His serialized works in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper captivated a broad audience, making him one of Japan's first literary celebrities. His exploration of themes such as individualism, the clash between tradition and modernity, and the psychological complexities of human relationships was revolutionary for his time.Controversially, Soseki was critical of Japan's rapid Westernization, a stance that sparked considerable debate. His nuanced perspectives on cultural identity and modernization influenced a generation of writers, including Haruki Murakami and Yukio Mishima. Soseki's legacy endures not only through his literary masterpieces but also through his profound impact on the cultural and intellectual landscape of Japan.