Botchan

Botchan is a modern young man from the Tokyo metropolis sent to the ultra-traditional Matsuyama district as a Maths teacher after his the death of his parents. Cynical rebellious and immature Botchan finds himself facing several tests from the pupils - prone to playing tricks on their new naïve teacher; the staff - vain immoral and in danger of becoming a bad influence on Botchan; and from his own as-yet-unformed nature as he finds his place in the world. One of the most popular novels in Japan where it is considered a classic of adolescence as seminal as The Catcher in the Rye Botchan is as funny poignant and memorable as it was when first published over 100 years ago.In J. Cohns introduction to his colourful translation he discusses Botchans success the books clash between Western intellectualism and traditional Japanese values and the importance of names and nicknames in the novel. Review Sosekis lightest and funniest work -- Donald KeeneThis rollicking rebel and the spice and pace of the narrative will appeal to parent teacher and schoolchild alike ―Times Literary Supplement About the Author Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) is often considered the greatest modern Japanese novelist. In 1900 his government sent him to England for two years as Japans first Japanese English literary scholar but he had a miserable time there. Returning to Japan he wrote his greatest novels includingBotchanSanshiro andKokoro as well as essays haiku and kanshi.