Kwaidan - Hearn, Lafcadio

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Résumé :
Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things is a captivating collection of supernatural tales and cultural observations written by Lafcadio Hearn. This book immerses readers in the mysterious and otherworldly realm of Japanese folklore, showcasing Hearn's fascination with the country's ghostly legends and customs. Within its pages, readers will encounter a wide array of eerie and enchanting stories. From vengeful spirits and haunted temples to encounters with mythical creatures and supernatural occurrences, Hearn masterfully weaves together elements of horror, mysticism, and Japanese aesthetics. Each tale is rich in atmospheric detail, evoking a sense of both beauty and unease. In addition to the supernatural tales, Kwaidan also offers insightful cultural studies, delving into the customs, traditions, and beliefs of Japan. Hearn's deep admiration for Japanese culture shines through as he explores topics such as the tea ceremony, folk beliefs, and the art of storytelling. The author's unique perspective and masterful storytelling transport readers to a realm where the boundaries between the living and the dead are blurred, leaving a lasting impression of both wonder and unease....

Biographie:
Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904) was born on the Ionian island of Lefkada to a Greek mother and British Army father. His parents' separation and annullment left him, at age 7, the ward of a paternal great-aunt in Dublin. She sent him to Catholic schools in Ireland, France, and England, but family bankruptcy interrupted his education and led to his emigration to America in 1869. His promised contacts proved worthless, and he was left broke and alone in Cincinnati, Ohio. He found work there with the expatriot English printer and socialist Henry Watkin and later as a newspaper reporter for the Daily Enquirer. In 1874 he married Alethea Foley, a 20-year-old African American woman (in violation of Ohio's anti-miscegenation law). They divorced in 1877, and Hearn moved to New Orleans where he lived ten years and wrote for several newspapers, starting with the Daily Item in June 1878, and later for national publications Harper's Weekly and Scribner's Magazine. He went to the West Indies as a correspondent 1887-1890, and then to Japan. He married Koizumi Setsuko in 1891, became a Japanese citizen in 1896, adopting the name Koizumi Yakumo, and taught at high schools and universities. His published books on Japanese culture were instrumental in introducing Meiji Japan to an international audience. He was succeeded as professor of literature at Tokyo Imperial University by Natsume S?seki. Charles Woodward Hutson (1840-1936) was a Confederate veteran, lawyer, painter, author, and professor of Greek and modern languages at Southern colleges.

Sommaire:
Greek-Japanese writer, translator, and educator Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, also known as Koizumi Yakumo (27 June 1850 - 26 September 1904) was responsible for introducing Japanese culture and literature to the West. His works, particularly his compilations of tales and ghost stories like Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things, provided previously unheard-of insights into Japanese culture. He was a journalist in the US before relocating to Japan and obtaining Japanese citizenship, especially in Cincinnati and New Orleans. His New Orleans-related writings, which were inspired by his ten-year residence there, are likewise well-known. From there, he was assigned to serve as a reporter in the French West Indies for two years before being transferred to Japan, where he spent the remainder of his life. Hearn wed Setsuko Koizumi in Japan, and the two had four kids together. His publications on Japan gave the West more understanding of a culture that was at the time still foreign to it....