Exotics and Retrospectives

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Hearn, Lafcadio, 1850-1904

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Exotics and Retrospectives" by Lafcadio Hearn is a collection of essays and reflections written in the late 19th century. This work draws on the author's experiences and observations from both Japan and the West, delving into themes of culture, nature, and personal introspection. Each essay paints vivid imagery and explores various topics, such as the significance of Mount Fuji, the Japanese reverence for musical insects, and philosophical musings inspired by Zen texts. The opening of the collection introduces readers to the beauty of Mount Fuji, emphasizing its cultural and spiritual importance to the Japanese people. Hearn recounts the experience of preparing for the climb, describing the serene yet mysterious ambiance surrounding the mountain. He captures the vivid imagery of the journey, detailing the changing landscapes, from the lush base to the stark volcanic terrain, ultimately leading to the mountain's summit. As he documents both the physical ascent and the emotional journey, Hearn reflects on the relationship between nature and spirituality, setting the tone for the contemplative explorations that follow in the essays. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

Exotics: Fuji-no-Yama. Insect-musicians. A question in the Zen texts. The literature of the dead. Frogs. Of moon-desire

Retrospectives: First impressions. Beauty is memory. Sadness in beauty. Parfum de jeunesse. Azure psychology. A serenade. A red sunset. Frisson. Vespertina cognitio. The eternal haunter.

Credits:

Produced by Henry Flower and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 58.5 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2013-05-18