Word: mishima
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Scintillating pessimism and imperious disdain have always been Vidal's stock in trade. But in two previously uncollected pieces he demonstrates a humane, empathetic mastery of so-called personal journalism. In "The Death of Mishima," he blends his own acute sense of mortality with a meditation on the significance of the Japanese writer's grandstand suicide in 1971. In the end, it is not Yukio Mishima's writings that impress Vidal but the romantic act of conditioning his body for death. Ritual suicide is not Vidal's own cup of tea, though he is in poignant...
...theatrical end to a grandly flamboyant life. Besides his many novels and stories, Mishima wrote a play a year, acted in and directed plays and films, and published scholarly treatises. He gave legendary dinner parties in his Tokyo mansion, which was furnished with exquisite antiques gathered with remarkably eclectic taste. His much publicized "private army" was really a little cadre of idolaters who tried to discipline mind and body according to traditional samurai precepts. Mishima was a protean figure to his countrymen, and a major literary figure around the world. He was one of a very few Asian writers...
...that some of its sketchier aspects, notably those dealing with Buddhism and ideas of reincarnation, will be developed later on, changing the emphasis of the whole work. By itself, the book must be judged as an attempt at a grand-scale novel in the 19th century manner. Coming from Mishima, this is a surprise. The material is neither adventurous nor perverse-two qualities often found in his best fiction. The leisurely, well-upholstered prose is far from the impeccable, stripped-down modern style found in previous novels. Ultimately, this new direction is not particularly fruitful. But if Spring Snow...
Obviously the trials of this Asian young Werther need to be told with exceptional vigor and skill, but Mishima was no Goethe. Digressions and flashbacks are often handled with surprising awkwardness. Kiyoaki is stupefyingly narcissistic, and unfortunately so is the author. He pauses so often to admire his hero and his school friends that at times the prose itself resembles a drowning pool. Some of this satiety may be chargeable to a wordy, flaccid translation. Occasionally, however, Mishima produces sensual writing of great delicacy. Looking at two Siamese princes, Kiyoaki reflects: "Such skin must surely seal within itself a cool...
Perhaps Spring Snow's most attractive quality is a strain of humor seldom found in Mishima. His Tokyo aristocrats are amusingly caught between East and West, lavishly mounting their ancient rituals and becoming expert billiard players. When Satoko becomes engaged, the palace discreetly passes the word that this flower of culture, versed in poetry and calligraphy, must learn to play mah-jongg because that is her future mother-in-law's favorite diversion. As for her fiancé, the Imperial Highness, his only known opinions are on Western music. When his proud mother asks him to "play some...