Shadowings

Hearn, Lafcadio, 1850-1904Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 116K words
Chapters: 12

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Shadowings by Lafcadio HearnAuthor: Hearn, Lafcadio, 1850-1904,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Nov 5, 2010

Editor's review

Shadowings is a collection of essays and stories by Lafcadio Hearn (Koizumi Yakumo) and belongs to the public-domain literary canon. Hearn lived in Japan for many years, and his writing often blends Western observation with Eastern subjects; his style is delicate, tinged with the ghostly and the lyrical. The book serves as an entry point for understanding Hearn's essayistic style and his writing about other cultures, and will also appeal to readers interested in Japanese scenery and the tradition of ghost stories. As you read, notice how the author, as a foreigner, captures details, and how the style shifts between essay and story. Because it was written in English, the language carries the vocabulary and syntax of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which may take some getting used to for first-time readers. The overall length is moderate, making it suitable for slow, piece-by-piece reading; there is no need to finish it in one sitting.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Lafcadio Hearn and writing about other cultures
Literature lovers who enjoy Japanese scenery, ghost stories, and lyrical essays
Readers who want to experience late-nineteenth-century prose style through original English texts
People who need short pieces for English extensive reading or literary appreciation

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a systematic general introduction to Japanese culture or an academic monograph
Those who prefer fast-paced plots and have little patience for lyrical essays
Beginning readers with weak English who need a Chinese translation to assist them

Reading tips

Start by reading the table of contents and choose shorter pieces or ones with appealing titles to build a feel for the language.
Keep a notebook to record the Japanese scenery and ghost-story elements mentioned in the text for easy reference.
When you encounter old-fashioned syntax, first read through for the general meaning of the paragraph rather than checking every word, so as to keep your reading rhythm.
Read it alongside other works by Hearn or collections of Japanese ghost stories to appreciate how he selects and adapts his material.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

What is this book mainly about?

It is a collection of Hearn's essays and stories, covering Japanese scenery, ghost legends, and personal observations; the style shifts between essay and narrative, reflecting his characteristic fusion of East and West.

Do I need to understand Japanese culture first to read it?

Not necessarily. Hearn often begins with concrete observations, and first-time readers can follow the narrative; some prior knowledge of Japanese ghost stories and customs will make it easier to appreciate the interest and intent behind them.

How difficult is the English?

It is late-nineteenth- to early-twentieth-century English prose, with longer sentences than modern English and more literary vocabulary. Readers with some grounding in English can read it slowly, piece by piece; beginners may want to use annotations or compare with a translation.

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About the author

Hearn, Lafcadio, 1850-1904 Author

Hearn, Lafcadio (1850–1904) was an essayist and writer of folk literature who wrote in English in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and lived for a long time in Japan. His works draw chiefly on legends, ghost stories and daily life in Japan, China and the Caribbean. Twenty-two of his works are held here, including Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, Kokoro: Hints and Echoes of Japanese Inner Life, Some Chinese Ghosts, Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan: First Series, Kotto, Exotics and Retrospectives and Two Years in the French West Indies. His writing blends foreign observations, folk tales and personal meditation in a cool, vivid style, and has deeply influenced Western understanding of Japanese culture. Because public information is limited, his early life and biographical details are not elaborated here; this note focuses on the subjects and style of his works.