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夜光の階段 上
能はあるが出世のチャンスが無かった一介の美容師・佐山が、様々な女を利用して、まるで階段を上るかのごとく栄光を掴もうとする。
305 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1981
About the author
Seichō Matsumoto
590 books740 followersSeicho Matsumoto (松本清張, Matsumoto Seichō), December 21, 1909 – August 4, 1992) was a Japanese writer.
Matsumoto's works created a new tradition of Japanese crime fiction. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Matsumoto incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life into his crime fiction. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Matsumoto did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Matsumoto's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Matsumoto became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970); Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989) and Kiri no hata (1961; Pro Bono, 2012), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitarō Nomura on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand.
Matsumoto's works created a new tradition of Japanese crime fiction. Dispensing with formulaic plot devices such as puzzles, Matsumoto incorporated elements of human psychology and ordinary life into his crime fiction. In particular, his works often reflect a wider social context and postwar nihilism that expanded the scope and further darkened the atmosphere of the genre. His exposé of corruption among police officials as well as criminals was a new addition to the field. The subject of investigation was not just the crime but also the society in which the crime was committed.
The self-educated Matsumoto did not see his first book in print until he was in his forties. He was a prolific author, he wrote until his death in 1992, producing in four decades more than 450 works. Matsumoto's mystery and detective fiction solidified his reputation as a writer at home and abroad. He wrote historical novels and nonfiction in addition to mystery/detective fiction.
He was awarded the Akutagawa Prize in 1952 and the Kikuchi Kan Prize in 1970, as well as the Mystery Writers of Japan Award in 1957. He chaired the president of Mystery Writers of Japan from 1963 to 1971.
Credited with popularizing the genre among readers in his country, Matsumoto became his nation's best-selling and highest earning author in the 1960s. His most acclaimed detective novels, including Ten to sen (1958; Points and Lines, 1970); Suna no utsuwa (1961; Inspector Imanishi Investigates, 1989) and Kiri no hata (1961; Pro Bono, 2012), have been translated into a number of languages, including English.
He collaborated with film director Yoshitarō Nomura on adaptations of eight of his novels to film, including Castle of Sand.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 21, 2016
I had already read a couple of books by Matsumoto, so I already knew what I was in for: lots of dialogue, sometimes quite repetitive, not very complicated characters (and characters' descriptions), some moments where he goes on a tangent and takes on academic writing to make the book more 'serious'... And the first part of "夜光の階段" ('Stairway under the nocturnal light', more or less) gives us all of this, falling within Matsumoto's style perfectly.
The story follows a hairdresser who has a relationship with two of his clients, one that has money, the other that has connections, to further his career. Matsumoto doesn't go for subtlety and makes both women as annoying as possible. He does a great job in creating an atmosphere where our protagonist will feel he cannot breathe (not that he didn't choose himself to be there). Both of the women are so controlling that their dialogue will make the reader want to leave the room more than once. There is also a policeman that seems to have a tangent connection to the story, but for now, our probable 'hero' is on the sides (he may appear more in the second part of the story).
This all does for a very entertaining introduction to the story. Matsumoto does a great job in hinting at some dark things to happen without really telling much, and in keeping a fast paced dialogue that makes the novel easy to read. The reader will be on tenterhooks, but Matsumoto will just keep the disagreements mounting and piling on each other, raising the tension. If the characters just were better developed and some more interest would be given to descriptions and action, the story would be greatly improved.
As it is, "夜光の階段" is a great beginning to a mystery story. Totally worth checking.
6.5/10
(Review of the original Japanese version)
The story follows a hairdresser who has a relationship with two of his clients, one that has money, the other that has connections, to further his career. Matsumoto doesn't go for subtlety and makes both women as annoying as possible. He does a great job in creating an atmosphere where our protagonist will feel he cannot breathe (not that he didn't choose himself to be there). Both of the women are so controlling that their dialogue will make the reader want to leave the room more than once. There is also a policeman that seems to have a tangent connection to the story, but for now, our probable 'hero' is on the sides (he may appear more in the second part of the story).
This all does for a very entertaining introduction to the story. Matsumoto does a great job in hinting at some dark things to happen without really telling much, and in keeping a fast paced dialogue that makes the novel easy to read. The reader will be on tenterhooks, but Matsumoto will just keep the disagreements mounting and piling on each other, raising the tension. If the characters just were better developed and some more interest would be given to descriptions and action, the story would be greatly improved.
As it is, "夜光の階段" is a great beginning to a mystery story. Totally worth checking.
6.5/10
(Review of the original Japanese version)
Displaying 1 of 1 review