Shinji, a young fisherman on the small Japanese island of Utajima, is poor and shy, and he lives with his mother and brother. One day he sees Hatsue, the daughter of a wealthy local man, and falls in love with her. The villagers gossip, and Hatsue's father disapproves. Yukio Mishima's 1954 novel is based on the ancient Greek story of Daphnis and Chloe, but is set in a modern fishing community, with the sea, the seasons and the village's rituals as part of the story. Shinji has to prove his worth through work and courage.
Readers who like short, lyrical and traditional love stories will find a clear, uncomplicated novel by an author better known for darker books.
Clear-cut and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1954
- Language
- EN
