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Yukio Mishima

Series: Critical Lives
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( 77 ratings, 22 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
Yukio Mishima by Damian Flanagan is a compelling biography that delves into the life of the enigmatic and controversial Japanese author. Flanagan explores Mishima's complex personality, his literary achievements, and the cultural and political contexts that shaped his work. The book paints a vivid picture of Mishima's journey, offering insights into his motivations and the impact of his legacy.
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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?

If you're intrigued by the life of influential literary figures and desire an in-depth exploration of a complex, multifaceted personality, this biography offers a compelling look into an enigmatic writer's world. It delves into the artistic and personal struggles of a controversial and renowned author, unveiling the cultural and historical backdrop that shaped his work and life. Perfect for those who appreciate a nuanced narrative that combines literary analysis with personal insight.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

In his radically new analysis of an extraordinary life, Damian Flanagan moves away from the stereotypical depiction of Mishima as a right-wing nationalist and aesthete and presents him as a man utterly obsessed with time - time-keeping devices and symbols - arguing that this compulsion was at the heart of the author's literature and life.

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

Yukio Mishima was the most internationally acclaimed Japanese author of the twentieth century: prodigiously talented, dazzlingly prolific and a prime candidate for the Nobel Prize. Yet in 1970, Mishima shocked the world with a bizarre attempt at a coup d'etat, which ended in his suicide by ritual disembowelment.

In his radically new analysis of an extraordinary life, Damian Flanagan moves away from the stereotypical depiction of Mishima as a right-wing nationalist and aesthete and presents him as a man utterly obsessed with time β€” time-keeping devices and symbols β€” arguing that this compulsion was at the heart of the author's literature and life.

This book untangles the frequent distortions in the writer's memoirs, which have often been taken at face value, and traces the evolution of Mishima's attempts to master and transform both his sexuality and artistic persona.

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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?

Yukio Mishima by Damian Flanagan has been widely praised as an insightful introduction to the renowned Japanese author and playwright. Reviewers highlight Flanagan's willingness to explore Mishima's complex character with honesty and depth, making use of Japanese sources not previously available in English. The biography is noted for its sensitive readings of Mishima's work and its examination of his influence and legacy in literature and culture.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781780233451

Publisher: Reaktion Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 July 2014

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Reaktion Books

Illustration: 37 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 200.0mm

Height: 130.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Damian Flanagan is an award-winning author and translator who has published a number of books on Japanese literature, including Natsume Soseki: Superstar of World Literature (2007). He has also written widely on Japanese politics, arts and society for publications including Newsweek and the Nihon Keizai Shinbun.

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