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Œuvres, Tome II
Ce volume contient
Bruine de neige [Quatre sœurs] - La Mère du général Shigemoto - Années d'enfance - La Clef [La Confession impudique] - Chronique inhumaine - Le Pont flottant des songes - Journal d'un vieux fou
Le second tome contient notamment Bruine de neige (Quatre sœurs), qui fut écrit pendant la guerre. C'est un livre serein. Les pétales de fleurs de cerisier tombent en virevoltant ; on savoure le doux sentiment de regret provoqué par l'impermanence de la beauté. Tanizaki, serein ? L'âge, pourtant, ne guérit pas toutes les passions. Plus que jamais dominante, la femme se trouve face à un homme dont la virilité défaille - drame personnel qui rejoint la tragédie collective quand l'impuissance du héros est due à l'irradiation subie à Hiroshima (Chronique inhumaine) ; Tokusuke à bout de forces (Journal d'un vieux fou) est tenu en haleine par le désir que lui inspire sa belle-fille. Mais il sait, tous savent, Tanizaki le premier, que la vie doit finir. Alors, de la conscience claire de ce qu'est la condition humaine, s'élève une lumière salutaire - comme une jubilation.
Bruine de neige [Quatre sœurs] - La Mère du général Shigemoto - Années d'enfance - La Clef [La Confession impudique] - Chronique inhumaine - Le Pont flottant des songes - Journal d'un vieux fou
Le second tome contient notamment Bruine de neige (Quatre sœurs), qui fut écrit pendant la guerre. C'est un livre serein. Les pétales de fleurs de cerisier tombent en virevoltant ; on savoure le doux sentiment de regret provoqué par l'impermanence de la beauté. Tanizaki, serein ? L'âge, pourtant, ne guérit pas toutes les passions. Plus que jamais dominante, la femme se trouve face à un homme dont la virilité défaille - drame personnel qui rejoint la tragédie collective quand l'impuissance du héros est due à l'irradiation subie à Hiroshima (Chronique inhumaine) ; Tokusuke à bout de forces (Journal d'un vieux fou) est tenu en haleine par le désir que lui inspire sa belle-fille. Mais il sait, tous savent, Tanizaki le premier, que la vie doit finir. Alors, de la conscience claire de ce qu'est la condition humaine, s'élève une lumière salutaire - comme une jubilation.
1680 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 1998
About the author
Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
619 books2,270 followersJun'ichirō Tanizaki (谷崎 潤一郎) was a Japanese author, and one of the major writers of modern Japanese literature, perhaps the most popular Japanese novelist after Natsume Sōseki.
Some of his works present a rather shocking world of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions; others, less sensational, subtly portray the dynamics of family life in the context of the rapid changes in 20th-century Japanese society.
Frequently his stories are narrated in the context of a search for cultural identity in which constructions of "the West" and "Japanese tradition" are juxtaposed. The results are complex, ironic, demure, and provocative.
Some of his works present a rather shocking world of sexuality and destructive erotic obsessions; others, less sensational, subtly portray the dynamics of family life in the context of the rapid changes in 20th-century Japanese society.
Frequently his stories are narrated in the context of a search for cultural identity in which constructions of "the West" and "Japanese tradition" are juxtaposed. The results are complex, ironic, demure, and provocative.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 13, 2014
Holydays would be Japanese. I acknowledges to be disappointed by what I read at the point not to have desire for making the review of them. But thanks of the splendid Praj'sreview on Praise of shadow I carried volume II of complete works of Tanizaki. I had not read anything of him since 1988, date of this book has been published.
The structure of the novel is particular. We pass alternatively in the head of the narrator and his wife Ikeku. The narrator speaks about his diary journal. He complains to be not able to satisfy his wife sexually. The male sexual impotence is a subject taboo in all civilisation. Tanizaki approaches it without turning.
The narrator writes a diary journal. He describe in it his disorders . He misuses male hormones to maintain a level acceptable. The amounts which he takes are enormous for poor results. Ikéku also complains about her husband but she had received a traditional education, she's submissive.She regrets the insufficiency of her husband but she seems to accept it. What obstructs her more, it is the obsession of her husband to see his body. The narrator is fetishistic foot.
The couple drink too much. Ikeku falls asleep drunk. Her husband benefits from it to undress her and take photo of her naked body. It is for him a true sexuality of substitution since it takes pleasure there. We think of course of Kawabata.
All is consigned in the diary journal which he manages by highlighting the key to make it possible Ikaku to read it. It is the only real communication of the couple. The couple has a girl who will marry. The narrator asks the son-in-law to develop the photographs. Consciously or not, he causes desire in him.The son-in-law will become the lover of Ikaku. This is a way of satisfying his wife by procuration.
The narrator will die of hypertension caused by the hormones. I let to you read the last pages to discover the total cruelty of the account.
What a great talent, what a big control of the account, it is admirable. But especially, Tanizaki takes all the risks. In the Japan after WWII, in doubt, in search of identity, he demolishes the last rampart, virility and the male identity.
Worse, the strong character, it is the woman, not the man. It is completely subversive. I had read it before going to Japan and that had escaped me. It is completely inconceivable. It is not astonishing that the book was so badly accommodated when it has been published.
Samurais are tired.
The structure of the novel is particular. We pass alternatively in the head of the narrator and his wife Ikeku. The narrator speaks about his diary journal. He complains to be not able to satisfy his wife sexually. The male sexual impotence is a subject taboo in all civilisation. Tanizaki approaches it without turning.
The narrator writes a diary journal. He describe in it his disorders . He misuses male hormones to maintain a level acceptable. The amounts which he takes are enormous for poor results. Ikéku also complains about her husband but she had received a traditional education, she's submissive.She regrets the insufficiency of her husband but she seems to accept it. What obstructs her more, it is the obsession of her husband to see his body. The narrator is fetishistic foot.
The couple drink too much. Ikeku falls asleep drunk. Her husband benefits from it to undress her and take photo of her naked body. It is for him a true sexuality of substitution since it takes pleasure there. We think of course of Kawabata.
All is consigned in the diary journal which he manages by highlighting the key to make it possible Ikaku to read it. It is the only real communication of the couple. The couple has a girl who will marry. The narrator asks the son-in-law to develop the photographs. Consciously or not, he causes desire in him.The son-in-law will become the lover of Ikaku. This is a way of satisfying his wife by procuration.
The narrator will die of hypertension caused by the hormones. I let to you read the last pages to discover the total cruelty of the account.
What a great talent, what a big control of the account, it is admirable. But especially, Tanizaki takes all the risks. In the Japan after WWII, in doubt, in search of identity, he demolishes the last rampart, virility and the male identity.
Worse, the strong character, it is the woman, not the man. It is completely subversive. I had read it before going to Japan and that had escaped me. It is completely inconceivable. It is not astonishing that the book was so badly accommodated when it has been published.
Samurais are tired.
Displaying 1 of 1 review