Natsume Sōseki (1867 - 1916) is one of the most famous Japanese writers of the late 19th - early 20th century. He was regarded as a mentor by such luminaries of Japanese literature as Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, Osamu Dazai, and Yasunari Kawabata. A prolific author of novels and stories, an insightful critic, a talented poet, and an original artist, he left a vivid mark on the culture of the Meiji era—a complex period in Japanese history where the old, traditional culture clashed with modern Western influences.
He was one of the most educated representatives of the thoroughly Europeanized Japanese intelligentsia of the early 20th century. Yet at the same time, he was a typical Japanese. He is always referred to as "edokko"—"a native of Edo," meaning a person who, by birth, tastes, and character, belongs to the city of Tokyo, which was formerly the old shogunal capital of Edo. This duality allowed him to create his unique literary style, which remains appealing to contemporary readers.
The three novels by Natsume Sōseki included in this volume—"Sanshiro," "Then," and "The Gate"—form a sort of trilogy and are rightly considered the pinnacle of his work, which continues to have a powerful influence on the literary life of modern Japan.
