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Natsume, Soseki, 1867-1916We have 1 book for this author.
Natsume Sōseki (夏目 漱石? 9 February 1867 - 9 December 1916) was the pen name of Natsume Kinnosuke (夏目金之助?), who is widely considered to be the foremost Japanese novelist of the Meiji Era (1868-1912). He is commonly referred to as Sōseki. He is best known for his novels Kokoro, Botchan, and I Am a Cat. He was also a scholar of British literature and composer of haiku, Chinese-style poetry, and fairy tales. From 1984 until 2004, his portrait appeared on the front of the Japanese 1000 yen note. Early yearsBorn as Natsume Kinnosuke in the city of Edo (modern-day Tokyo), Sōseki began his life as an unwanted child, born to his mother late in her life. His parents foisted him off on a former household servant (Shiobara Masanosuke) and his wife, by whom he was brought up until the age of nine. He returned to his household and was welcomed by his mother although regarded as a nuisance by his father. His mother died when he was fourteen, and his two eldest brothers in 1887, intensifying his sense of insecurity. Sōseki attended the First Tokyo Middle School (now Hibiya High School),[1] where he became enamored with Chinese literature, and fancied that he might someday become a writer. However, his family disapproved strongly of this course of action, and when Sōseki entered the Tokyo Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) in September of 1884, it was with the intention of becoming an architect. He began studying English at that time, feeling that it might prove useful to him in his future career. In 1887, Sōseki met Masaoka Shiki, a friend who would give him encouragement on the path to becoming a writer, which would ultimately be his career. Shiki tutored him in the art of composing haiku. From this point on, Sōseki began signing his poems with the name Sōseki, which is a Chinese idiom meaning "stubborn". In 1890, Sōseki entered the English Literature department, and quickly became a master of the English language. Sōseki graduated in 1893, and enrolled for some time as a graduate student and part-time teacher at the Tokyo Normal School. Sōseki began teaching at Matsuyama Middle School in Shikoku, in 1895, which is the setting of his novel Botchan. Along with fulfilling his teaching duties, Sōseki published haiku and Chinese poetry in a number of newspapers and periodicals. He resigned his post, in 1896, and began teaching at the Fifth High School in Kumamoto. On June 10 of that year, he married Nakane Kyoko. 
 Sōseki in the United Kingdom, 1901-1902In 1900, the Japanese government sent Sōseki to study in Great Britain. He visited Cambridge and stayed a night there, but gave up the idea of studying at the university because he could not afford it on his government scholarship. He had a miserable time of it in London, spending most of his days indoors buried in books, and his friends feared that he might be losing his mind. He also visited Pitlochry in Scotland. He lived in four different lodgings. Nevertheless, despite his poverty and loneliness, he solidified his knowledge of English literature and returned to Japan at the end of 1902. Five years later, in his preface to Bungakuron (The Criticism of Literature), he wrote about the period:
In 1984, Sammy I. Tsunematsu opened the Soseki Museum at 80b, The Chase, London SW4 0NG. After his return to the Empire of Japan, he replaced Koizumi Yakumo at the First Higher School, and subsequently became a professor of English literature at Tokyo Imperial University, where he taught literary theory and literary criticism. Literary careerSōseki's literary career began in 1903, when he began to contribute haiku, renku (haiku-style linked verse), haitaishi (linked verse on a set theme) and literary sketches to literary magazines, such as the prominent Hototogisu, edited by his former mentor Masaoka Shiki, and later by Takahama Kyoshi. However, it was the public success of his short story Wagahai wa neko de aru ("I Am a Cat") in 1905 that won him wide public admiration as well as critical acclaim. He followed on this success with short stories, such as Rondon to ("Tower of London") in 1905 and the novels Botchan ("Little Master"), and Kusamakura ("Grass Pillow") in 1906, which established his reputation, and which enabled him to leave his post at the university for a position with Asahi Shimbun in 1907, and to began writing full-time. He began writing one novel a year until his death from a stomach ulcer in 1916. Major themes in Sōseki's works include ordinary people fighting against economic hardship, the conflict between duty and desire, loyalty and group mentality versus freedom and individuality, personal isolation and estrangement, the rapid industrialization of Japan and its social consequences, contempt of Japan's aping of Western culture, and a pessimistic view of human nature. Sōseki took a strong interest in the writers of the Shirakaba (White Birch) literary group. In his final years, authors such as Ryūnosuke Akutagawa and Kume Masao became close followers of his literary style. Major worksSōseki's major works include:
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This biographical information was gathered from the Soseki_Natsume page, courtesy of the Wikipedia project. BooksBotchan (Master Darling) |
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