Dance girl

Author: Mori Ogai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Must-read masterpieces of world fiction. Mori Ogai is celebrated in the history of modern Japanese literature, rivaling Natsume Sōseki in fame, and regarded as a giant of Meiji literature. This book includes nine short and medium-length stories by Mori Ogai. The Dancing Girl (or The Ballad of the Dancer) uses a romantic and lyrical style to depict the pure yet tragic love story between a young couple from different countries, ultimately ending in tragedy. It is hailed as the cornerstone of Japanese romanticism. The Messenger and The Record of Bubbles portray two virtuous women who pursue happiness but are ultimately sacrificed by feudal oppression. The Wild Goose tells the heartbreaking tragedy of a poor woman, a mistress of usury, who is deceived and, upon gaining a faint awakening to pursue her own happiness, finds her hopes shattered. Whether depicting the life of European students or the customs and traditions of Japan, the author's pen is filled with a rich sense of melancholy, radiating the theme of anti-feudalism and individual liberation.