| Author |
Natsume, Soseki, 1867-1916 |
| Translator |
Mori, Yasotaro, 1882-1959 |
| Title |
Botchan (Master Darling)
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 80.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
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| Credits |
David Starner and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team
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| Summary |
“Botchan (Master Darling)” by Soseki Natsume is a novel written during the late 19th century, specifically in the context of Japan's Meiji era. The story revolves around a hot-blooded and straightforward protagonist, known as Botchan, who embarks on a journey filled with comedic misadventures and encounters as he navigates through life as a young teacher in a rural town. The narrative offers a biting critique of the hypocritical facets of society, particularly within educational institutions. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Botchan's reckless nature through a series of childhood anecdotes that highlight his impulsivity and defiant spirit. He recalls moments of mischief that often have led to trouble, such as jumping from heights to prove his bravery and getting involved in conflicts with peers. Following the death of his mother, he describes his troubled relationship with his father and brother, ultimately deciding to fend for himself. With little passion for academic pursuits but a strong sense of justice, Botchan takes a teaching position in a middle school far from Tokyo, setting the stage for the unfolding drama as he confronts the quirky characters and absurdities of his new environment. The opening serves to establish both the tone of the narrative—lighthearted yet reflective—and the challenges Botchan is likely to face in a society that often seems absurd and hypocritical. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PL: Language and Literatures: Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
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| Subject |
Japan -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
8868 |
| Release Date |
Sep 1, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Mar 21, 2022 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
395 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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