Exotics and Retrospectives

Lafcadio Hearn (1850 - 1904)

Lafcadio Hearn, born 1850 in Greece, went to Japan when he was 40 years old and became a Japanese citizen only 6 years later. His writings about Japan from the beginning of the Meiji era, when the country was just opening to the West, remain among the most important explanations of Japanese culture.

This book contains in the first part, "Exotics", his observations of and personal insights into Japan. For example, Fuji no Yama tells about him climbing the highest mountain in Japan; and A Question in the Zen Texts, Literature of the Dead, and Of Moon Desire try to explain Buddhist teachings. In the second part, "Retrospectives", Hearn leaves both Japan and his vantage point as impartial observer behind and delves into personal experiences and musings that occurred to him in the numerous countries he visited. The main topic of these very personal pieces is beauty in all its forms. (Summary by Availle)

Genre(s): Essays & Short Works, Philosophy

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Foreword William Gavula
00:01:39
Play 01 EXOTICS: I Fuji-No-Yama William Gavula
00:48:14
Play 02 II Insect Musicians MaryAnn
00:46:59
Play 03 III A Question in the Zen Texts William Gavula
00:10:53
Play 04 IV The Literature of the Dead, Part 1 Availle
00:42:51
Play 05 IV The Literature of the Dead, Part 2 Availle
00:28:33
Play 06 V Frogs Larry Wilson
00:19:33
Play 07 VI Of Moon-Desire Lynne T
00:12:48
Play 08 RETROSPECTIVES: VII First Impressions Isana
00:14:08
Play 09 VIII Beauty is Memory Larry Wilson
00:11:47
Play 10 IX Sadness in Beauty JenMitchell
00:10:25
Play 11 X Parfum de Jeunesse Kristin G.
00:05:21
Play 12 XI Azure Psychology Larry Wilson
00:14:12
Play 13 XII A Serenade Kristin G.
00:08:53
Play 14 XIII A Red Sunset heeheekitty
00:13:42
Play 15 XIV Frisson heeheekitty
00:12:55
Play 16 XV Vespertina Cognitio Availle
00:20:52
Play 17 XVI The Eternal Haunter Kristin G.
00:08:56