THE HEART OF NATSUME SOSEKI／Peter Milward
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"The Heart of Natsume Soseki" is a collection of reviews introducing some of his more famous novels.
Unlike most professional discussions of his novels, which have to be read in their original Japanese, together with an awareness of other such discussions, I have to admit that I have only read them in English translation and I discuss them as if I had read them soon after their original publication. Whereas academic writers usually avoid criticism of the novels, I never hesitate to criticize so famous a novelist - beginning with his charming first novel, "I Am a Cat", according to my cover illustration, and leading on to his more famous novel, "Kokoro", which I regard as untranslatable, though it features in the English of my title. In my mind, however, the greatest of all his novels is that entitled "Mon", or the Gateway to a famous temple in Kamakura.
Unlike most professional discussions of his novels, which have to be read in their original Japanese, together with an awareness of other such discussions, I have to admit that I have only read them in English translation and I discuss them as if I had read them soon after their original publication. Whereas academic writers usually avoid criticism of the novels, I never hesitate to criticize so famous a novelist - beginning with his charming first novel, "I Am a Cat", according to my cover illustration, and leading on to his more famous novel, "Kokoro", which I regard as untranslatable, though it features in the English of my title. In my mind, however, the greatest of all his novels is that entitled "Mon", or the Gateway to a famous temple in Kamakura.
著者のプロフィール
Peter Milward was born in London on October 12, 1925, and educated at Wimbledon College (a Jesuit high school). He entered the Society of Jesus in 1943, and after various studies he went on to specialize in the Classics and English at Oxford University. He came to Japan in 1954 and after further studies was ordained priest in 1960. From 1962 onwards he has taught English literature at Sophia University in Tokyo. In addition to founding the Renaissance Institute, the Hopkins Society of Japan and the Chesterton Society of Japan, he has published some 400 books, mostly as textbooks for Japanese students, many of them translated into Japanese, but now most of them out of print. Several of his books, especially those on the drama of Shakespeare and the poetry of Hopkins, have been published in England and America. Even in retirement he is still teaching and writing, as he enters his 88th year (or beiju).
Peter Milward was born in London on October 12, 1925, and educated at Wimbledon College (a Jesuit high school). He entered the Society of Jesus in 1943, and after various studies he went on to specialize in the Classics and English at Oxford University. He came to Japan in 1954 and after further studies was ordained priest in 1960. From 1962 onwards he has taught English literature at Sophia University in Tokyo. In addition to founding the Renaissance Institute, the Hopkins Society of Japan and the Chesterton Society of Japan, he has published some 400 books, mostly as textbooks for Japanese students, many of them translated into Japanese, but now most of them out of print. Several of his books, especially those on the drama of Shakespeare and the poetry of Hopkins, have been published in England and America. Even in retirement he is still teaching and writing, as he enters his 88th year (or beiju).