Kokoro

The novel, written more than a century ago in 1914, is set during the closing years of the Meiji era in Japan (1868-1912). The protagonist, who remains unnamed, is a student in the university in Tokyo while his parents manage their farm in a village somewhere.He meets a much older man and develops great respect for him. He admires his wisdom and personality even though he wonders why this wise and erudite man doesn't work but prefers to live off his and his wife's inherited money.He wants to know more about the old man, who also remains un-named and is referred to as Sensei (like Guru) throughout. But Sensei is taciturn and even though he has him home regularly for meals etc, he doesn't encourage intimacy.After completing his graduation the protagonist goes home as his father is seriously ill. From there he writes regularly to Sensei but gets little by way of response. But one day he receives from Sensei a package containing a several-pages long letter. As his own father is dying, he only gets a chance to skim through the epistle. When his eyes fall towards the end of the letter he reads words to the effect that his Sensei would be dead by the time he reads these words. Extremely upset, he deserts his dying father and rushes to Tokyo.En route he reads the whole letter.This long letter from Sensei is in fact another story. It is Sensei's sorrowful and also shameful tale.It's a thought provoking book. Considered a classic and also the beginning of modern Japanese literature. The introduction claims that the book deals with the transition of Japan from feudal-isolationist to modern-westernised under Emperor Meiji. Frankly, I didn't find any apparent link to this transition, though the transition would have had many human-interest issues.I also feel that Sensei's story deserved stand-alone status because that's much more moving and thought-provoking than the earlier parts.

Realmente no esperaba más que lo normal en lo que respecta a literatura japonesa, pero me topé con una gran sorpresa.Hasta el día de hoy, no había conocido tal grado de sencillez de palabras y profundidad de mensaje.Cómo dentro de la naturaleza humana se encuentran tantas dudas que generan desequilibrio en el futuro, de esto y más trata Kokoro, tan humano, tan solemne.

This is a classic of Japanese literature, the kind of book that everyone reads in school. This is a good, easy-to-read translation that “feels” Japanese to me. (I don’t read Japanese.)The story rests on a relationship between an older man and a younger man, a mentor and mentee, about 100 years ago. The relationship seems stiff and formal even for the period. For the American reader, this means being attuned to subtleties that signal large points of character development (and sometimes plot). The book is at root about sensei (the teacher/mentor), told from the viewpoint of the student.That formality clearly isolates the characters from one another. In addition, Soseki never gives either one a name. They are lonely and alienated, and that drives the story. The simplicity of Soseki's style supports that loneliness and overall depressing mood. It's not a feel-good story.Oddly, the central story is told in a frame within a frame. Soseki closes the inner frame but never backs out to the overall frame. That decision makes the ending very abrupt, and it feels incomplete. Pay close attention to what’s going on.It’s a classic for a reason, and very accessible to the American reader. I'm sure I'll reread it some time, which I rarely do. Strongly recommended.

所々漱石の原文に引っ張り込まれたような変な英訳が有る。原文のsimplicityを損なわないように英訳したと訳者は前書きで述べているが、どうやらそれが仇になっているような訳文になってしまっていると思う。Donald keen氏レベルの英訳を期待したが叶わなかった。翻訳は奥が深い芸術なので訳者の力量が全て。原作と読み比べてこの訳者の理解力・表現力を楽しみたい。それにしてもNHKの100分で名著『こころ』はYouTubeで観れるので、お勧めする。そこで紹介されている事だが、漱石が『こころ』の着想を得たであろう米国の作品も読んでみたいと思った。

this book is so delicate and comprehensive. in true japanese style the plot is by no means fast paced, which could put some off, but what you loose in pace i felt you gained so much in depth. as a result the characters really came to life and i felt myself empathising with so many of them.the basic plot is that a young student meets one who he calls 'sensei' although not being an official teacher to him, this student wants to learn from this mysterious and closed person.written in the first person, the reader is brought face to face with many themes although there seems to be a hint of nihilistic undertone--particularly when one regards the history at the time of it's writing. i particularly loved the abrupt ending which in some sense doesn't finish the story and therefore allows you to conclude it yourself, but i won't ruin it for you!i only bought this book because dancingphilip recommended it, so it was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off. probably one of my top 5 books.

Im not usually a fan of reading but i could not put this book down this is such a beautiful/heartbreaking book it is a must read!!