About the book
“Soseki is the representative modern Japanese novelist, a figure of truly national stature.”—Haruki Murakami
The father of modern Japanese literature's best-loved novel, in its first new English translation in half a century
No collection of Japanese literature is complete without Natsume Soseki's Kokoro, his most famous novel and the last he completed before his death. Published here in the first new translation in more than fifty years, Kokoro—meaning \"heart\"—is the story of a subtle and poignant friendship between two unnamed characters, a young man and an enigmatic elder whom he calls \"Sensei.\" Haunted by tragic secrets that have cast a long shadow over his life, Sensei slowly opens up to his young disciple, confessing indiscretions from his own student days that have left him reeling with guilt, and revealing, in the seemingly unbridgeable chasm between his moral anguish and his student's struggle to understand it, the profound cultural shift from one generation to the next that characterized Japan in the early twentieth century.
Editions of Kokoro
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780143106036
- EBook
- ISBN 9781101195819
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780593417010
- AudioStreaming
- ISBN 9780593417027
Read an Excerpt
“Soseki is the representative modern Japanese novelist, a figure of truly national stature.”—Haruki Murakami
The father of modern Japanese literature's best-loved novel, in its first new English translation in half a century
No collection of Japanese literature is complete without Natsume Soseki's Kokoro, his most famous novel and the last he completed before his death. Published here in the first new translation in more than fifty years, Kokoro—meaning \"heart\"—is the story of a subtle and poignant friendship between two unnamed characters, a young man and an enigmatic elder whom he calls \"Sensei.\" Haunted by tragic secrets that have cast a long shadow over his life, Sensei slowly opens up to his young disciple, confessing indiscretions from his own student days that have left him reeling with guilt, and revealing, in the seemingly unbridgeable chasm between his moral anguish and his student's struggle to understand it, the profound cultural shift from one generation to the next that characterized Japan in the early twentieth century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kokoro about?
“Soseki is the representative modern Japanese novelist, a figure of truly national stature.”—Haruki Murakami
The father of modern Japanese literature's best-loved novel, in its first new English translation in half a century
No collection of Japanese literature is complete without Natsume Soseki's Kokoro, his most famous novel and the last he completed before his death. Published here in the first new translation in more than fifty years, Kokoro—meaning \"heart\"—is the story of a subtle and poignant friendship between two unnamed characters, a young man and an enigmatic elder whom he calls \"Sensei.\" Haunted by tragic secrets that have cast a long shadow over his life, Sensei slowly opens up to his young disciple, confessing indiscretions from his own student days that have left him reeling with guilt, and revealing, in the seemingly unbridgeable chasm between his moral anguish and his student's struggle to understand it, the profound cultural shift from one generation to the next that characterized Japan in the early twentieth century.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Kokoro?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Kokoro?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780143106036
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Kokoro?
Natsume Soseki
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Kokoro is available as paperback(ISBN 9780143106036) and ebook(ISBN 9781101195819) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593417010) and audiostreaming(ISBN 9780593417027)
Where can I buy Kokoro online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Kokoro from below