This collection of short stories by one of the 20th century's most significant Japanese authors offers a penetrating look into the human psyche and existential anxieties. The author masterfully explores themes such as death, madness, and moral dilemmas with remarkable urgency and profound introspection. His style is characterized by its conciseness, evocative imagery, and often unsettling atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. It is essential reading for fans of classic Japanese literature.
A longer revised edition that uses the same ISBN can be found here.地獄に落ちた男が、やっとのことでつかんだ一条の救いの糸。ところが自分だけが助かりたいというエゴイズムのために、またもや地獄に落っこちる『蜘蛛の糸』。大金持ちになることに愛想がつき、平凡な人間として自然のなかで生きる幸福をみつけた『杜子春』。魔法使いが悪魔の裁きを受ける神秘的な『アグニの神』。健康で明るく、人間性豊かな作品集。収録10作品蜘蛛の糸・犬と笛・蜜柑・魔術・杜子春・アグニの神・トロッコ・仙人・猿蟹合戦・白