The Pillow Book of Grass

Natsume Sōseki (1867–1916) is a recognized classic of Japanese literature, the author of novels that became not just the calling card of a generation, but also an exemplary prose style written in modern Japanese.

The degree of Sōseki’s popularity is evidenced by the fact that his novel “Kokoro” is still the best-selling classic work in Japan.

This new collection, where you’ll find previously unpublished works in Russian, will reveal Natsume Sōseki from an unexpected angle—not only as a literary giant and novelist, but also as a master of short prose, as well as an outstanding haiku poet, whom you might place in the same line as his friend and teacher Masaoka Shiki. Almost half of the book is taken up by the novella “Kusamakura” (“A Pillow of Grass”), the title of which refers to an ancient Japanese tradition of poetic journeys—into which we invite you to set off right now.