Old Age

Name: Old Age
ISBN: 9787229156169

Osamu Dazai / 朱春育Chongqing Publishing House · ChinaSep 2023

4.0

Word count: 95K words
Chapters: 14
ISBN: 9787229156169

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Summary

Late Years is a collection of short fiction by Osamu Dazai, including more than ten pieces such as "Memories," "The Fish Scale Record," "He Is No Longer Himself," and "Legend," recreating the thoughts on family, friends, life, and courage of a Dazai who had just entered the literary world. In his youth Dazai's ideas were fragmented and his spirit deeply unsettled, full of "rebellion and defiance," and this collection is a direct projection of his early thought and character.

Editor's review

The Late Years is an early collection by Osamu Dazai, including several short stories and essays such as "Cherry Blossoms and the Magic Flute" and "The Reverse Course." This book shows the starting point of Dazai's literary creation, and his later works' profound self-analysis, doubt about existence, and morbid pursuit of beauty are already visible in the text. Unlike the thorough despair in No Longer Human, the despair in The Late Years is more immature and struggling, like the murmurs of a sensitive soul groping for an exit in the dark. The book is full of philosophical speculation on life and death, and a romantic sentiment bordering on self-destruction. In terms of literary value, this work is a key text for understanding the evolution of Dazai's thought and literary style, and readers can glimpse the prototypes of many of his later themes. Reading this book is not only reading a series of stories but also entering the fragile and passionate inner world of a genius writer, experiencing the literary flower that blooms in decadence.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Japanese literature, especially the "Buraiha" school
Literary researchers who wish to understand the origins and development of Dazai's creation and thought
Readers who can appreciate and empathize with delicate, gloomy, and introspective writing styles
Young people in times of confusion who seek resonance and an outlet through literature

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking light, pleasant reading experiences or preferring positive themes
Readers who feel uncomfortable with extensive inner monologue, self-doubt, and gloomy atmospheres

Reading tips

It is recommended to read this book in contrast with Dazai's later No Longer Human to experience changes in his creative mood and style.
No need to rush; you can start with one or two essays or short stories to adapt to his unique narrative rhythm.
Pay attention to the unique interpretation of "beauty" and "death" in the book, which is one of the core motifs running through Dazai's literature.

About the publisher

Chongqing Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Chongqing Publishing House is a comprehensive publisher known for its titles in the humanities, social sciences, literature and arts, with about 940 books in its catalogue. Its publishing areas cover world history, science fiction, foreign literature, architecture and philosophy. Representative titles include Xiang Da's A History of Communications Between China and the West, Liang Sicheng's Rules of Qing-Style Construction, Liu Cixin's The Three-Body Problem II: The Dark Forest and III: Death's End, Ann Rand's The Fountainhead (25th Anniversary Edition), and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series. Its authors include Xiang Da, Liu Cixin, Liang Sicheng and Ann Rand. The press has developed distinctive strengths in historical source editing, the introduction and creation of science fiction, the translation of foreign literature, and architecture and philosophy titles, balancing scholarly value with general readership. As public information is limited, this profile outlines its publishing directions based only on the books in the catalogue.

版权信息
叶
回忆
鱼服记
列车
地球图
猴岛
麻雀游戏
他不再是他
传奇
玩具
鬼火
盲草纸
附录

FAQ

Is The Late Years Dazai's posthumous work?

No. The Late Years is a collection published in Dazai's early period (at age 24). The title carries self-mockery and prophecy and is not a work from the final stage of his life.

How does the style of this book differ from No Longer Human?

The despair in The Late Years is more chaotic, struggling, and experimental, a mixture of adolescent angst and literary ambition; while the despair in No Longer Human is more thorough and systematized, a final judgment after experiencing the vicissitudes of life. The former is a prelude, the latter is the finale.

Is "The Reverse Course" included in the book a representative work?

Yes. "The Reverse Course" is a highly representative short story in this book and was shortlisted for the first Akutagawa Prize. Its title also metaphorically reflects the life attitude of Dazai himself and his characters, often running counter to social conventions.

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About the author

Osamu Dazai Author · Japan · 1909–1948

Osamu Dazai (1909–1948) was a Japanese novelist born Tsushima Shūji into a wealthy landowning family in Aomori Prefecture. A leading figure of Japan's "Buraiha" or decadent school, he entered the literary world in the 1930s, and his early work The Setting Sun was shortlisted for the first Akutagawa Prize. In the postwar years he produced his most important writing, including The Setting Sun and No Longer Human, works marked by self-mocking confession and a gloomy, sentimental tone that portray outcasts, alienation, and self-destruction. His influence on later Japanese literature is profound. In 1948 he drowned himself with his lover, Yamazaki Tomie, at the age of 38. His fiction centers on self-exile, the disintegration of family, and the spiritual crisis of postwar Japan, and his decadent yet sincere style has earned him a wide readership in the Chinese-speaking world as well.

朱春育 Author

Zhu Chunyu is a Chinese-language book author about whom little public information is available. The records currently accessible show only that three of his works have been collected, commonly classified under foreign literature. His representative works include Wan Nian (Old Age) and Sheng Wei Nü Ren (Born as a Woman); Wan Nian appears twice in the collection, which may indicate different editions or separate catalog entries, though this cannot be confirmed. Judging from the existing classification, Zhu's writing or editing is related to foreign literature, and his works may involve the translation or compilation of literary works from abroad. Since his nationality, dates of birth and death, education, and professional career are all unknown, no further biographical details can be provided. As for the works available, the number of titles under his name is small, and the themes center on the later years of life and women's destinies; the titles themselves suggest a concern with individual life experience. Readers who wish to understand his writing style and literary influence would need to examine the texts and related publication information more closely.