{"product_id":"botchan-a-novel-by-soseki-natsume-9784805318225","title":"Botchan: A Novel by Soseki Natsume","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\"Soseki remains the great master of modern literature in Japan.\" --Norma M. Field\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBotchan has a chip on his shoulder. His elder brother is his parents' obvious favorite and Botchan only receives any attention at all if he misbehaves. After his parents die, Botchan is cut off by his brother and drifts into a job teaching math in a small provincial town far from the big city. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThrust into this alien environment, Botchan finds nothing but trouble--from his nosy landlord; his students, who delight in tormenting him; his fellow teachers, each of whom he christens with a sly nickname--Porcupine, Green Squash, Badger, Red Shirt--and others who insist on complicating his life. The result is chaos, told with great wit and irony that make this Soseki's funniest novel. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA modern classic in Japan, \u003ci\u003eBotchan\u003c\/i\u003e is as widely read today as when it was first published, occupying a place in the canon similar to \u003ci\u003eThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003eThe Catcher in the Rye\u003c\/i\u003e. Botchan's coming-of-age quest to navigate the hypocrisy of his peers while remaining true to what is honest and good never fails to capture the hearts and imaginations of readers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoseki Natsume\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Tokyo in 1867 and attended prestigious University of Tokyo before working as an English teacher for a time. He went to London for three years in 1900 on a government literary scholarship, where he developed a love for Shakespeare. Returning to take up a position at his alma mater, his writing career began with \u003ci\u003eI Am a Cat\u003c\/i\u003e in 1905. \u003ci\u003eBotchan\u003c\/i\u003e followed in 1906 and these remain his most popular works, along with \u003ci\u003eKokoro\u003c\/i\u003e. Soseki enjoyed great popularity during his lifetime, and when Japanese readers and critics are asked today which author they most admire, Soseki's name always appears at the top of the list. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eDennis Washburn\u003c\/b\u003e is Burlington Northern Foundation Professor in Asian Studies at Dartmouth College. His translations of Japanese literature include \u003ci\u003eThe Tale of Genji\u003c\/i\u003e by Murasaki Shikibu and \u003ci\u003eLaughing Wolf\u003c\/i\u003e by Yuko Tsushima, among others. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eUmeji Sasaki\u003c\/b\u003e (1873-1929) was a teacher and translator in Japan.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Tuttle Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51243789091090,"sku":"9784805318225","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_84604ea4-95ea-4b7e-a3ee-75e356f76b2a.jpg?v=1745871403","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/botchan-a-novel-by-soseki-natsume-9784805318225","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}