Chronicles of My Life: An American in the Heart of Japan (Hardcover)

~ (Author), Akira Yamaguchi (Illustrator) "When I was a child (and even much later), there was almost nothing to make me think of Japan..." (more)
Key Phrases: nese literature, New York, The Tale of Genji, Nobel Prize (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lovingly illustrated by the artist Akira Yamaguchi, the book limns a life inseparably linked to its dominant passion.... The history is fascinating, and the literary life Keene has doggedly carved out of it, remarkable." -- Andrew Monahan, TIME, Asia Edition

"Keene's book soars, largely because of his intriguing, highly personal account of the literary milieu of Japan, particularly its drama, whether on stage or screen.... [An] engaging and eloquent memoir." -- Robert Elegant, Times Literary Supplement

"Gratifying... picaresque.... The pathos at the heart of Keene's lovely and gracious memoir, and perhaps of his extraordinary life, emanates from this very human limitation: we cannot live in and love two worlds at once." -- Roland Kelts, Bookforum

"Few memoirs have the concision, modesty, and charm that mark this late-life work by Donald Keene, America's most renowned scholar and interpreter of Japan." -- Foreword

"[Keene] shares and teaches, speaking in vignettes by turns wistful, forceful, and lyrical.... This slim volume [is] a pleasure to read." -- Erik R. Lofgren, World Literature Today

Review

"As arguably the most important person in the creation and establishment of Japan studies in the West, Donald Keene& mdash;as well as the work he has produced and the work he has inspired& mdash;is certainly deserving of a book-length autobiography. Chronicles of My Life presents a clear view of the arc of an important scholar's life, his involvement with Japan, and the situations that led him to and the events that led him through its study." -- Stephen Miller, assistant professor of Japanese, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Columbia University Press (May 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0231144407
• ISBN-13: 978-0231144407
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #724,570 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life Long Journey of Japanese Studies, June 21, 2008

By	Jason T. Fetters "Horror Fanboy & Japanologist" (Tampa, FL The Sunshine State) - See all my reviews

Donald Keene's Chronicles is an enjoyable read. At first I hestitated to buy it because I had already read On Familiar Terms (now out of print) and I didn't want a rehash. I was wrong. Keene took the basic structure of his life from On Familiar Terms and wrote with great insight and humor and presented his anecdotes at a different angle. He expands on things said in his preivous book and both books read together give a complete picture of Keene. He actually said more with less. Chronicles is only 183 pages compared to Familiar Terms at 287.
In Chronicles, Keene talks about how he was "lucky enough" to even start Japanese language. He studied Japan at a time that was before WWII, the bubble economy of the 80's, and the recent otaku devotion to anime, manga, jpop, and video games. Now, many students probably come to Japanese classes because of some aspect of pop culture. Keene developed an interest in Japanese literature that would led to many excellent translations and non-fiction books on Japan. He recalls humorous dinners with such famous writers as Mishima Yukio, Abe Kobo, and he even spent time at the house of Tanizaki Junichiro.
How many scholars of Japanese Studies are that fortunate?
This is a great read about a young man who studied Japanese and eventually matured into an older man who became a gifted translator and teacher. I think more people should read memoirs like this. My regret is that few people will probably read it even though it deserves to be read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtfully written , September 21, 2008

By	C. Mancini - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read this book in two sittings, and found that in a genre often characterized by bloated, self-aggrandizing tales of Me-dom, his was extremely thoughtful and modest and, most importantly, entertaining. I recall a passage where he describes the extent to which his psyche has shifted toward that of the Japanese. It is revealed in the humility with which he tells his story, and by the omissions which anyone would have been forgiven for including (myriad honorary degrees, Japanese government awards, recognition within academic circles). He includes those only which aid the narrative, consistent with his belief that passion for the topic is more important than minutiae.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plum Blossoms, August 5, 2008

By	Christian Schlect (Yakima, Washington/USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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A fine memoir of a scholar of the highest order, written with grace and modesty.

This book will especially be enjoyed by those with an interest in the culture of modern Japan, and also those familiar with previous works authored by Donald Keene.

This slight volume on Professor Keene's long and fruitful life is enhanced by the delightful art of Akria Yamaguchi.