An Exquisite Sense of What is Beautiful

A famous British writer in his seventies, Sir Edward Strathairn, returns to a resort in the Japanese mountains where he wrote his best-selling novel, The Waterwheel, in the 1950s. The novel explores the ethics of nuclear destruction at Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the aftermath of the Tokyo firebombings. It is also a thrilling romance and a sensitive exploration of blame, power, and guilt in post-war America, Japan, and Britain.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Saraband

In the 1950s, an esteemed British writer delves into the ethical complexities of nuclear destruction in his novel. However, as he embarks on this literary journey, he finds himself grappling with his own troubled past.

Hakone, Japan, 2003. Sir Edward Strathairn, in his seventies, returns to a resort in the Japanese mountains, a place where he once spent a serene and picturesque winter. It was during this time that he penned his best-selling novel, "The Waterwheel," which boldly accused America of denying the devastating consequences of the Tokyo firebombings and the nuclear devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

London, England, 1952. A young Edward falls in love with an avant-garde American artist named Macy. Their tumultuous relationship leads to a breakup, and Edward embarks on a journey to Japan, where he meets someone else and falls deeply in love once again. As he writes the novel that propels him to fame, he explores the themes of blame, power, and guilt in post-war America, Japan, and Britain.

"An Exquisite Sense of What is Beautiful" is a captivating blend of romance and introspection. With a narrator whose actions resonate with the national conscience, the novel delves into the intricacies of human relationships and the moral dilemmas that arise in times of conflict. It is a story that will linger with readers long after they turn the final page, leaving a lasting impression on their hearts and minds.

Weight: 218g
Dimension: 129 x 198 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913393700
Edition number: 2 New edition