Pathway to Japanese Literature
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A Gesakusha's Theory of LiteratureAuthor: Sakaguchi Ango
| Original Title | 戯作者文学論 |
|---|---|
| Author | 坂口 安吾 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | A writer’s diary unfolds as a raw, introspective journey into the turbulent creation of a novel. Wrestling with self-doubt and scorching summer heat, the author documents his struggle to craft a story challenging literary norms—one that intertwines flesh and spirit, defying the cerebral detachment he critiques in revered predecessors. His characters rebel against his plans: a fragile wife resists becoming a vessel for past regrets, while a husband’s pretensions threaten to unravel. Visitors intrude—eccentric poets, earnest journalists—mirroring his own clashes between artistic integrity and survival. Haunted by a lost love whose ghost permeates the narrative, he grapples with unintended cruelty toward his creations, fearing his pen stains purity even as he seeks transcendence. Between cold baths and whiskey-fueled nights, the diary pulses with vulnerability—a testament to stories that consume their teller, where every page risks exposing both fiction’s lies and the raw truth of a life staked on words. |
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