American Stories

Nagai Kafu

"An early masterpiece by one of the most famous writers of modern Japan. . . one of the most remarkable collections of stories about the United States ever composed by a Japanese writer. Long a classic in Japan, the publication of these stories in English translation is an event of considerable importance, long overdue." — J. Thomas Rimer, University of Pittsburgh

"Nagai Kafu’s American Stories is unquestionably among the most interesting works not only of his career but of Japanese literature in general in the early years of this century. It provides a panoramic view of the American continent through the eyes of an extraordinarily astute outside observer and at the same time paints an intimate portrait of the observer himself and his position between cultures." — Stephen Snyder, University of Colorado, Boulder

Related Subjects

• Asian Literature
• Fiction

Series

• Modern Asian Literature Series

About the Author

Nagai Kafu (1879–1959) is considered one of the most important Japanese writers of this century. He is best known in America for A Strange Tale from East of the River, which is included in Edward Seidensticker’s Kafu the Scribbler. "Elegant, erotic, aristocratic, Kafu’s writing has a special and complex flavor," states Thomas Rimer in A Reader’s Guide to Japanese Literature. "Winsome, antisocial yet capable of great enthusiasm, Kafu remains a unique and personal voice."

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