"Before and After the Plum Rain" is a classic collection of novels by the Japanese aestheticist writer Karika Nagai, including "Before and After the Plum Rain", "Sunset Glow at the Willow Window", "Flower in the Shade", "Some Night", "Yokokan" and other representative novels. The historical novel "Sunset Glow at the Scattered Willow Window" was written in 1913 and was originally titled "The Death of a Popular Novelist". It describes the decline and decline of the famous Edo period popular novelist Yanahutei Tanehiko due to the harsh cultural policies of the Tenpo Reform in the Edo period. The novella "Before and After the Rain" of the same name describes the degenerate life of a cafe waitress Kimie from the countryside to the city in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan, where the west wind is blowing from the east. It is one of Nagai Kafeng's masterpieces in his mature creative period. Beauty and retro have become his unique aesthetic style. "The Flower of the Shade" also reflects the mentality of private prostitution.
Unlike Junichiro Tanizaki who was keen to oppose the repression of sex and love by feudal ethics through female beauty and sensual beauty, Karika Nagai was better at ridiculing and criticizing the superficial Westernization of Japan after the Meiji Restoration by describing the world's customs. Karika Nagai pays attention to the female group, especially those lower class characters struggling in the quagmire of fate. They represent the slowly disappearing Edo style. His works reveal the hedonistic thoughts of grasping the present and experiencing joy. They also reflect the author's pursuit of truth in the Japanese social situation at that time, and his unique rebellious style of commemorating Edo customs to resist the hypocrisy of society.
Reader comments
The writing style of this book is very unique and the writing is delicate, which reminded me of the experiences of some of my friends. The descriptions of women in the book are very realistic, especially the fate of those lower class characters, which makes people empathize with them. The author's criticism of social issues is also very profound, which gave me a deeper understanding of that era. This is not only a novel, but also a reflection on society.
The writing style of this book is very unique and the writing is delicate, which reminded me of the experiences of some of my friends. The descriptions of women in the book are very realistic, especially the fate of those lower class characters, which makes people empathize with them. The author's criticism of social issues is also very profound, which gave me a deeper understanding of that era. This is not only a novel, but also a reflection on society.