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Forbidden Colours

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( 4,754 ratings, 482 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Forbidden Colours by Yukio Mishima is a profound exploration of beauty, desire, and the human condition. The novel delves into a complex relationship between a young, beautiful man and an older, disillusioned writer. As they navigate Tokyo's vibrant post-war society, themes of love, betrayal, and the pursuit of identity unfold, revealing darker sides of human passion.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by complex explorations of human relationships and society. It delves into themes of beauty, obsession, and sexuality within post-war Japan, offering profound insights into the human condition through its vivid characters and ornate prose. If you appreciate literary fiction that challenges and provokes thought, this may be a captivating read for you.

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Forbidden Colours

Depicts a male homosexual relationship, in which a rich older man buys the love of a young man who is stunningly handsome but who lacks the ability to love.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A Japanese masterpiece, reissued in Modern Classics.

Written when Mishima was only twenty-six, Forbidden Colours is a depiction of a male homosexual relationship, in which a rich older man buys the love of a young man who is stunningly handsome but lacks the ability to love. As in Mann's Death in Venice, the older man's longing for the beauty of youth is associated with aestheticism and death.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Forbidden Colours by Yukio Mishima has been praised for its intricate exploration of themes such as beauty, obsession, and the complexity of human relationships. The novel delves into the dualities of love and hatred, capturing readers with its profound psychological depth and elegant prose. Some reviewers note the book’s intensity and the way Mishima crafts a vivid narrative that is both engaging and provocative.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141189567

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 October 2008

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Alfred H. Marks

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 127.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 317g

Pages: 432

About the Author

Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) is considered by many critics as the most important Japanese novelist of the 20th century. Mishima's works include 40 novels, poetry, essays, and modern Kabuki and Noh dramas. He was three times nominated for the Nobel Prize for literature. Among his masterpieces is The Temple of the Golden Pavilion (1956). The tetralogy The Sea of Fertility (1965-70) is regarded by many as Mishima's most lasting achievement.

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