Lafcadio Hearn's Japan

"Hearn's writing was not only true on the surface but in depth; not only to his conscious thinking but also to the submerged feelings that gave their rhythms to his prose.…and he later proved that he knew which tales to choose and which details to emphasize, in exactly the right English." — Malcolm Cowley Lafcadio Hearn is the most significant early interpreter of Japan and Japanese culture for the West—a man who traveled to Japan when he was thirty-nine, and never left. Lafcadio Hearn's Japan presents Hearn's most famous stories and essays about his adopted land—recounting his love for its striking natural beauty and the rich character and customs of its people. The 18 fascinating essays in this book include: "In a Japanese Garden" Hearn's classic description of the meditative calm and serenity he experienced when visiting a traditional Zen garden just outside his back door "Strangeness and Charm" Expressing his deep love for the richness and beauty of traditional Japanese