1 option
Kappa / Ryunosuke Akutagawa ; translated from the Japanese by Allison Markin-Powell & Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda.
Van Pelt Library PL801.K8 K313 2023
Available
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Akutagawa, Ryūnosuke, 1892-1927, author.
- Standardized Title:
- Kappa. English
- Language:
- English
- Japanese
- Subjects (All):
- Demonology--Fiction.
- Demonology.
- Japan--Folklore--Fiction.
- Japan.
- Mentally ill--Japan--Fiction.
- Mentally ill.
- Psychiatric hospitals--Japan--Fiction.
- Psychiatric hospitals.
- Magic--Fiction.
- Magic.
- Genre:
- Magic realist fiction.
- Novellas.
- Fantasy fiction.
- Physical Description:
- 82 pages ; 21 cm
- Place of Publication:
- New York : New Directions Publishing Corporation, 2023.
- Summary:
- "The Kappa is a creature from Japanese folklore known for dragging unwary toddlers to their deaths in rivers: a scaly, child-sized creature, looking some- thing like a frog, but with a sharp, pointed beak and an oval-shaped saucer on top of its head, which hardens with age. Akutagawa's Kappa is narrated by Patient No. 23, a madman in a lunatic asylum: he recounts how, while out hiking in Kamikochi, he spots a Kappa. He decides to chase it and, like Alice pursuing the White Rabbit, he tumbles down a hole, out of the human world and into the realm of the Kappas. There he is well looked after, in fact almost made a pet of: as a human, he is a novelty. He makes friends and spends his time learning about their world, exploring the seemingly ridiculous ways of the Kappa, but noting many - not always flattering - parallels to Japanese mores regarding morality, legal justice, economics, and sex. Alas, when the patient eventually returns to the human world, he becomes disgusted by humanity and, like Gulliver missing the Houyhnhnms, he begins to pine for his old friends the Kappas, rather as if he has been forced to take leave of Toad of Toad Hall.."-- Provided by publisher.
- Notes:
- Translated from the Japanese.
- "A New Directions paperbook original (NDP1566)."
- ISBN:
- 9780811232166
- 0811232166
- OCLC:
- 1348286239
The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.