The Miner is the most daringly experimental and least well-known novel of the great Meiji writer Natsume Soseki. An absurdist tale about the indeterminate nature of human personality, written in 1908, it was in many ways a precursor to the work of Joyce and Beckett.
Written in 1908, this is a daringly experimental work of Japanese fiction, about the indeterminate nature of human personality. Translated by Jay Rubin, it includes an introduction by Haruki Murakami. who describes it as 'one of my favourites'. A precursor to the work of Joyce and Beckett.
Praise for Sōseki:
'The Miner may be a product of its time and place, but so is To the Lighthouse, so is A Man Without Qualities, and books about thought – or mining for the nature of thought – are a valuable addition to any healthy reading diet. Warmly recommended for the curious reader' David Mitchell, author of The Bone Clocks
‘It makes me very happy to know that even now I can read this novel written over a hundred years ago as if it were a contemporary account and be deeply affected by it. It cannot and should not be overlooked. It is one of my favourites’ from the introduction by Haruki Murakami
'Sōseki predicted the problems we are facing today. He had a long-term view of civilization. His popularity will become more global in the future' Kang Sang-jung, political scientist and principal of Seigakuin University
'This is a handsome and welcome new edition' The Japan Times
'Strangely compelling, it has a distinct flavour of Beckett or even Kafka and I found it intriguing and more accessible than much Japanese literature. An interesting read' M. Jenkinson, NetGalley reviewer
'With Jay Rubin's reworked translation and the modern feel of the voice, it reads like contemporary auto fiction. Definitely worth reading as part of Sōseki's oeuvre' M. Carter, NetGalley reviewer
'A must for Sōseki fans and those fascinated by the complexities of the mind' Hank Stephenson, bookseller, Flyleaf Books
'It was written over one hundred years ago, but seems very modern indeed' San Francisco Book Review
'It is almost meditational. The affective nature of the text is quite remarkable' T. Lunt, NetGalley reviewer
'This revised translation of The Miner presents an underappreciated gem from one of Japan's greatest novelists' Shelf Awareness
'The Miner is an awkward, fascinating novel -- yes, novel -- that deserves a new generation of English readers' Book Slut
Praise for Haruki Murakami:
In April 2015, Murakami was named one of the TIME 100's most influential people.
'Readers wait for [Murakami’s] work the way past generations lined up at record stores for new albums by the Beatles or Bob Dylan' Patti Smith, The New York Times Book Review
Praise for Jay Rubin:
'Translators generally don’t garner much attention, but Jay Rubin has distinguished himself' Seattle Times
