The Hunting Gun

Yasushi Inoue's novel, "A Lover, Her Daughter, and an Abandoned Wife," is a masterpiece of mid-century Japanese fiction that explores the tragic aftermath of a forbidden love affair. The book weaves together conflicting perspectives to tell a single story of love, death, truth, and longing. Inoue was a prolific author who published fifty novels and 150 short stories, becoming one of Japan's major literary figures.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 112 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2024
Publisher: Pushkin Press

Inoue's novel "Death in the Afternoon" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of human relationships, particularly the fraught dynamics between lovers and family members. The story follows three women who are all affected by a forbidden love affair that takes place in the 1920s. Saiko, the beautiful and sophisticated cousin of the protagonist, is disloyal to her friend and closest confidante, and her actions have tragic consequences for all involved. Midori, the forsaken wife of the protagonist, takes a silent vengeance against her husband and his lover, and her actions also have far-reaching consequences. Shoko, Saiko's daughter, is left to make sense of the family secrets that have been hidden from her for years, and her journey to uncover the truth is fraught with danger and emotional turmoil.

The novel is written in a compassionate yet unsentimental style, and Inoue skillfully weaves together conflicting perspectives to tell a single story of love, death, truth, and longing. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the reader is drawn into their emotional struggles and triumphs.

"Death in the Afternoon" is part of the Pushkin Press Classics series, which showcases timeless storytelling by icons of literature. The novel has been translated by Michael Emmerich, and Inoue's writing is praised for its elegance and clarity.

Yasushi Inoue (1907-1991) was a Japanese journalist and literary editor who began his prolific career as an author in 1949 with the novel "Bullfight." He went on to publish fifty novels and 150 short stories, both historical and contemporary, becoming one of Japan's major literary figures. In 1976, Inoue was presented with the Order of Culture, the highest honour granted for artistic merit in Japan.

Inoue's novel "Death in the Afternoon" is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human relationships, particularly the fraught dynamics between lovers and family members. The story is set in the 1920s and is filled with vivid descriptions of the social and cultural context of the time. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the reader is drawn into their emotional struggles and triumphs.

The novel's compassionate yet unsentimental style is a testament to Inoue's skill as a writer. He skillfully weaves together conflicting perspectives to tell a single story of love, death, truth, and longing. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the reader is drawn into their emotional struggles and triumphs.

"Death in the Afternoon" is part of the Pushkin Press Classics series, which showcases timeless storytelling by icons of literature. The novel has been translated by Michael Emmerich, and Inoue's writing is praised for its elegance and clarity.

In conclusion, "Death in the Afternoon" is a masterpiece of mid-century Japanese fiction that explores the complexities of human relationships and the tragic consequences of forbidden love. Yasushi Inoue's compassionate yet unsentimental style is a testament to his skill as a writer, and the novel's themes of love, death, truth, and longing are universal and enduring. This is a must-read for anyone who appreciates fine literature and the power of storytelling.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805330394