Blue Bamboo

Osamu Dazai

A collection of seven stories set in the Far East, some in the recent past, some further back in time. Generally rather wordy and can be hard going at times, but worth persevering with. Contains interesting insights in to the small lives of generally ordinary people.

Extract

Such was Yu Jang's exhaustion that his mind had become thoroughly befuddled, and thus, unbecoming though it was to one who had studied the way of the sages, he cursed the world and lamented his own lot. Peering through droopy-lidded eyes at a great flock of crows whirling about in the sky above him, he sighed and muttered: 'Ah to be one of those crows, who know nothing of wealth and poverty!'

Parallels