| Author |
Hearn, Lafcadio, 1850-1904 |
| Title |
Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 67.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Contents |
The story of Mimi-Nashi-Hoichi -- Oshidori -- The story of O-Tei -- Ubazakura -- Diplomacy -- Of a mirror and a bell -- Jikininki -- Mujina -- Rokuro-Kubi -- A dead secret -- Yuki-Onna -- The story of Aoyagi -- Jiu-Roku-Zakura -- The dream of Akinosuke -- Riki-Baka -- Hi-Mawari -- Horai -- Butterflies -- Mosquitoes -- Ants.
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| Credits |
an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer
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| Summary |
"Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things" by Lafcadio Hearn is a collection of short stories written during the late 19th century. This work is a significant exploration of Japanese folklore and spirituality, presenting readers with a tapestry of strange and eerie tales that delve into the supernatural elements of Japanese culture. At the start of this collection, the reader is introduced to various strange phenomena and folklore surrounding the spirits of the deceased. The opening story recounts the tale of Hōïchi, a blind musician who unwittingly becomes entrapped by the spirits of the Heiké clan, who were defeated in a historical battle long ago. He is called to perform for them, ultimately leading to a series of terrifying events that reveal both his talent and the peril of ignoring past obligations to the dead. This sets the tone for the subsequent stories, which explore themes of love, death, and the supernatural, each rich with the cultural significance and haunting beauty that Hearn masterfully conveys. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PL: Language and Literatures: Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania
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| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Ghost stories
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| Subject |
Paranormal fiction
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| Subject |
Japan -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Legends -- Japan
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1210 |
| Release Date |
Feb 1, 1998 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 30, 2022 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
1308 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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