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The Sun King: A Novel | New York Review Classics

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The Sun King: A Novel By Dazai Osamu, Translated By Donald Keene, Cover Design By Peter Mendelsund The Sun King (New York Review Classics)

The Sun King: A Novel
By Dazai Osamu
Translated by Donald Keene
Cover design by Peter Mendelsund
9781681374068
224 pages
Trade paperback, 5.5 x 8.25 inches
List price: $15.95
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The Sun King (New York Review Books Classics)

by Nancy Mitford

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	450 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	264 pages

About the Book

Yukichi, a young Communist, is drawn into a passionate love affair with a beautiful but fragile woman, Oyoshi. Their relationship is doomed from the start, and Yukichi is left devastated when she dies by suicide. In his grief, he gives up on politics and becomes a wanderer, drifting through life without purpose.

Years later, Yukichi meets a young woman named Hana who bears a striking resemblance to Oyoshi. He falls in love with her, but his past experiences haunt him. He cannot escape the memory of Oyoshi, and he is afraid of being hurt again.

The Sun King is a powerful and moving novel about love, loss, and redemption. Dazai Osamu's lyrical prose and keen psychological insights create a haunting and unforgettable story.

About the Author

Dazai Osamu (1909-1948) was one of the most important Japanese writers of the twentieth century. He was a prolific writer, producing novels, short stories, essays, and plays. His work is often characterized by its dark and pessimistic themes, but it also contains elements of humor and hope.

Dazai Osamu's most famous works include No Longer Human, The Setting Sun, and Good-bye. His work has been translated into more than thirty languages and has been adapted into several films and television dramas.

About the Translator

Donald Keene (1922-2019) was one of the most distinguished American scholars of Japanese literature. He was a professor at Columbia University for many years and translated more than fifty works of Japanese literature into English.

Keene's translations are known for their accuracy and clarity. He was also a gifted writer, and his prefaces and s to Japanese literature are illuminating and insightful.

Praise for The Sun King

"The Sun King is a masterpiece of Japanese literature. Dazai Osamu's lyrical prose and keen psychological insights create a haunting and unforgettable story." —The New York Times Book Review

"Dazai Osamu is one of the most important Japanese writers of the twentieth century. The Sun King is a powerful and moving novel about love, loss, and redemption." —The Guardian

"Donald Keene's translation is a tour de force. He captures the beauty and complexity of Dazai Osamu's prose." —The Japan Times