Pathway to Japanese Literature
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| Original Title | 瘋癲老人日記 |
|---|---|
| Author | 谷崎 潤一郎 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Male Author |
| Summary | Old Man Tokusuke, a wealthy patriarch in his late seventies, meticulously chronicles his twilight days in a diary. Plagued by a decaying body and the specter of death, his only remaining solace—and torment—is his electrifying, perverse obsession with Sachiko, his beautiful granddaughter-in-law. What begins as a secret fascination soon escalates into a dangerous game of psychological manipulation and forbidden desire. As Sachiko’s provocative charm increasingly holds him captive, Tokusuke finds himself drawn into a thrilling, albeit scandalous, dance of power and pleasure. He incites her malicious streak, delighting in her calculated cruelties, even as his health falters and his family senses a growing imbalance. With his sanity fraying and his legacy on the line, Tokusuke pushes the boundaries of propriety, seeking a twisted form of vitality in Sachiko’s captivating allure. But how far can an old man go in pursuit of such dangerous delights before his world, and perhaps his mind, completely unravels? |
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