{"product_id":"spring-snow-the-sea-of-fertility-1-9780679722410","title":"Spring Snow: The Sea of Fertility, 1","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A classic of Japanese literature\" \u003ci\u003e(Chicago Sun-Times\u003c\/i\u003e) and the first novel in the masterful tetralogy, \u003ci\u003eThe Sea of Fertility, \u003c\/i\u003eset in 1912 Tokyo, featuring an aspiring lawyer who believes he has met the successive reincarnations of his childhood friend. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It is 1912 in Tokyo, and the hermetic world of the ancient aristocracy is being breached for the first time by outsiders--rich provincial families unburdened by tradition, whose money and vitality make them formidable contenders for social and political power. Shigekuni Honda, an aspiring lawyer and his childhood friend, Kiyoaki Matsugae, are the sons of two such families. As they come of age amidst the growing tensions between old and new, Kiyoaki is plagued by his simultaneous love for and loathing of the spirited young woman Ayakura Satoko. But Kiyoaki's true feelings only become apparent when her sudden engagement to a royal prince shows him the magnitude of his passion--and leads to a love affair both doomed and inevitable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYUKIO MISHIMA was born in Tokyo in 1925. He graduated from Tokyo Imperial University's School of Jurisprudence in 1947. His first published book, \u003ci\u003eThe Forest in Full Bloom\u003c\/i\u003e, appeared in 1944 and he established himself as a major author with \u003ci\u003eConfessions of a Mask \u003c\/i\u003e(1949). From then until his death he continued to publish novels, short stories, and plays each year. His crowning achievement, \u003ci\u003eThe Sea of Fertility\u003c\/i\u003e tetralogy--which contains the novels \u003ci\u003eSpring Snow\u003c\/i\u003e (1969), \u003ci\u003eRunaway Horses\u003c\/i\u003e (1969), \u003ci\u003eThe Temple of Dawn\u003c\/i\u003e (1970), and \u003ci\u003eThe Decay of the Angel \u003c\/i\u003e(1971)--is considered one of the definitive works of twentieth century Japanese fiction. In 1970, at the age of 45 and the day after completing the last novel in the \u003ci\u003eFertility\u003c\/i\u003e series, Mishima committed \u003ci\u003eseppuku\u003c\/i\u003e (ritual suicide)--a spectacular death that attracted worldwide attention.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50606370586898,"sku":"9780679722410","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_8fc40d4f-81c9-4011-bb3e-18d32bb2c726.jpg?v=1732293009","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/spring-snow-the-sea-of-fertility-1-9780679722410","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}