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Yukio Mishima

Geoffrey W. Sargent

Patriotism (New Directions Pearls) Paperback – February 24, 2010

by Yukio Mishima (Author), Geoffrey W. Sargent (Translator)

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Part of: New Directions Pearls (1 books)

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One of the most powerful short stories ever written: Yukio Mishima’s masterpiece about the erotics of patriotism and honor, love and suicide.

By now, Yukio Mishima’s (1925-1970) dramatic demise through an act of seppuku after an inflammatory public speech has become the stuff of literary legend. With Patriotism, Mishima was able to give his heartwrenching patriotic idealism an immortal vessel. A lieutenant in the Japanese army comes home to his wife and informs her that his closest friends have become mutineers. He and his beautiful loyal wife decide to end their lives together. In unwavering detail Mishima describes Shinji and Reiko making love for the last time and the couple’s seppuku that follows.

Part of series

New Directions Pearls
Print length

60 pages
Language

English
Publisher

New Directions
Publication date

February 24, 2010
Dimensions

4.6 x 0.3 x 7.1 inches
ISBN-10

0811218546
ISBN-13

978-0811218542
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The violence we are facing with such difficulty in our daily lives, he gives us simply in all its subcutaneous horror and myth."
― Hortense Calisher, The New York Times Book Review

"A direct yet lyrical style devoted entirely to bringing out the elevated emotions of its two characters."
― Trevor Berrett, The Mookse and the Gripes

About the Author

Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) completed his first novel the year he entered the University of Tokyo and his last novel the day of his death. He is the author of numerous novels, stories, plays, and essays. Gore Vidal once said of him: “I only regret we never met, for friends found him a good companion, a fine drinking partner, and fun to cruise with.” Mishima committed suicide by ceremonial seppuku after a failed coup d’e´tat intended to restore pre-WWII power to the emperor of Japan.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ New Directions; Second edition (February 24, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 60 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0811218546
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0811218542
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.26 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.6 x 0.3 x 7.1 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #843,257 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #10,705 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #21,101 in Classic Literature & Fiction
- #42,290 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
83 ratings

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Yukio Mishima
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Yukio Mishima (三島由紀夫 Mishima Yukio?) is the pen name of Kimitake Hiraoka (平岡公威 Hiraoka Kimitake?, January 14, 1925 – November 25, 1970), a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, and film director. Mishima is considered one of the most important Japanese authors of the 20th century. He was considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968 but the award went to his fellow countryman Yasunari Kawabata. His works include the novels Confessions of a Mask and The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and the autobiographical essay Sun and Steel. His avant-garde work displayed a blending of modern and traditional aesthetics that broke cultural boundaries, with a focus on sexuality, death, and political change. Mishima was active as a nationalist and founded his own right-wing militia. He is remembered for his ritual suicide by seppuku after a failed coup d'état attempt, known as the "Mishima Incident".
The Mishima Prize was established in 1988 to honor his life and works.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Shirou Aoyama (http://www.bungakukan.or.jp/) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
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Geoffrey W. Sargent
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Customer reviews

5 star		75%
4 star		11%
3 star		9%
2 star 0% (0%)		0%
1 star		6%

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K350

Well written short story fit for a compilation book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 10, 2020

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I am a huge fan of the literary works of the late Yukio Mishima. "Patriotism" is one of his most powerful fictional short stories, full of meaning and metaphors for its time of publication. My only gripe would be that the story was already included in the short stories compilation book titled "Death in Midsummer", which features more of Mishima's best classic short novellas.

If you already own that book, then you will not need to buy "Patriotism" on its own (unless you are an avid book collector, of course).

One person found this helpful

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Steven

Great story, not so great Publisher

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 4, 2013

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I left one star off not because of the actual story, but rather because of the publisher. This addition has far too many typos for such a short little book (this book is actually really tiny, like a 60 page thick booklet) and is pretty overpriced as well considering that you can get the same thing with much more stories as well for just two dollars extra in the book " Death in Midsummer & Other Stories ". But those little nitpicking details aside, this story is still amazing. If you just want this story by itself and can look past the price and typos then this would be highly recommended, if not, then get the other book instead.

One person found this helpful

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Petronius

Special

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 7, 2020

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Fantastic book, not for everybody

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 18, 2001

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Mishima's imagery is as beautiful as ever, however I find that he tries to over-romanticize the suicide - almost to the point of making it seem comic or cliche. His description (or at least that of the translator's) is excellent and gripping. This is definately worth a read - a fairly unknown classic. Probably not much insight into Japanese culture, however you may get some insight into the character of Mishima himself, who ended his life in the same way as the main character...

2 people found this helpful

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Spencer Woo

Double Suicide

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 9, 2018

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He flips the tone of the traditionally dark act of suicide into a more honorable and understandable act. Incredibly empathetic, insightful, and poetic/romantic. Great short book, very artful.

2 people found this helpful

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Anthony Boccia

A must have for any Japanese lit fans

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 17, 2019

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This book is a must have for any fans of Japanese literature. Buy this, the book of five rings, and bushido!

One person found this helpful

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Jonnie Sparko

A masterpiece

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 6, 2015

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Some of the best writing I have ever come across. Mishima writes with passion and if you're not disturbed and moved, emotionally, by the end of this, you might just have no heart, or soul. The descriptions, the details, this is what imagery is supposed to be in writing.

2 people found this helpful

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ArgyBargy138

Story Great, quality of this book, not so much

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 3, 2019

Verified Purchase

My rating is solely on the quality of this book, not the story, I give the story 5 stars. This books is printed on a very cheap grade paper. My copy is covered with rubs and smudges all over the cover, and even on the pages. The condition that I received this extremely over priced copy in isn't even befitting of being called slightly used, let alone being sold as brand new and unused. the binding is very tight as well and feels like you'll end up cracking it if you bend the cover too much. Do yourself a favor and look for a copy of this done by another printing company.

4 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

The Bullsh*t Detector

Fabulous read but over priced by the publisher

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 26, 2022

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Loved the story but the publisher is taking a liberty with the costs! 5* for the story, 1* for the price. Get it second hand if you can. It takes less than an hour to read.

markus schulze

Very good!

Reviewed in Germany 🇩🇪 on May 27, 2021

Verified Purchase

The book is good. Nothing to complain. My recommendation.

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Follow the Authors

Patriotism (New Directions Pearls) Paperback – February 24, 2010

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