Reflections in a Glass Door

Much has been written about Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916), one of Japan's most celebrated writers. Known primarily for his novels, he also published a large and diverse body of short personal writings (shōhin) that have long lived in the shadow of his fictional works. The essays, which appeared in the Asahi shinbun between 1907 and 1917, comprise a fascinating autobiographical mosaic, while capturing the spirit of the Meiji era and the birch of modern Japan. In Reflections in a Glass Door, Marvin Marcus introduces readers to a rich sampling of Sōseki's shōhin. The writer revisits his Tokyo childhood, recalling family, friends, and colleagues and musing wistfully on the transformation of his city and its old neighborhoods. He painfully recounts his two years in London, where he immersed himself in literary research even as he struggled with severe depression. A chronic stomach ailment causes Sōseki to reflect on his own mortality and what he saw as the spiritual afflictions of modern Japanese: rampant egocentrism and materialism. Throughout he adopts a number of narrative voices and poses; the peevish husband, the harried novelist, the convalescent, the seeker of wisdom. Marcus identifies memory and melancholy as key themes in Sōseki's personal writings and highlights their relevance in his fiction. He balances Sōseki's account of his Tokyo household with that of his wife, Natsume Kyōko, who left a straightforward record of life with her celebrated husband. Sōseki crafted a moving and convincing voice in his shōhin, which can now be pondered and enjoyed for their penetrating observation and honesty, as well as the fresh perspective they offer on one of Japan's literary giants.