Friday, January 17, 2020

Mishima a Biography

Yukio Mishima was a fascinating guy.  This book was written by a friend of his, John Nathan. He did translations for Mishima.  He's more familiar with the author than the usual biographer.  Mishima went from being a sissy boy to becoming a buff man who trained his own army.  Then he committed harakiri, ritual suicide.  His books indicate that this man was always very troubled.  The first book he got published was "Confessions of a Mask", about his hidden homosexuality.  I've read it and "The Sailor who fell from the Grace of the Sea". Both are disturbing and not for the faint of heart.  Despite it, Mishima tried to be a regular Joe.  He had a wife and family.  He tried to present himself as "normal" but there was always something off.  The one thing I really admire here about him is how he always kept his deadlines.  Most writers can't say that.   

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