Exotics and Retrospectives

"Exotics and Retrospectives" completes ICG Muse's collection of the writings of turn-of-the-century Japanologist Lafcadio Hearn. Probably the least re-printed of Hearn's writing, it remarkably contains some of his most vital musings. As a collection, the books is a hodge-podge of subjects and quality. Split into two halves, "Exotics" contains his familiar subject of articles on Japan, then an undiscovered country having been open for trade to the world for only about 50 years. Like the reporter that he is, he chronicles both the day-to-day life of the populace, as well as his own inner impressions. The second half, "Retrospectives," is almost all personal insight into both Japan, death and other places where his mind and body take him. They are much more personal articles than is found in a usual Hearn collection, and say much more about the author than his adopted country. Exotics: "Fuji no Yama" - Absolutely one of my favorite Hearn articles. It is a true-life account of his scaling of Mt. Fuji, and the bitter struggle both personal and physical that it involves. Having faced the challenge myself, I could relate to every heavy step, and was amazed at how little the path has changed in 100+ years. A masterpiece. "Insect Musicians" - An account of the "musical insect" trade that thrived in Japan at the time. The trade has long vanished, and this is an incredible window on the past, including prices and varieties of the prized insects, and the best places to hunt them and hear them. "A Question in the Zen Texts" - A brief conversation about Zen, regarding a familiar story in a Chinese text. "Literature of the Dead" - A lengthy voyage through headstone memorials in a local Buddhist burial ground, detailing the giving of posthumous Buddhist names and how one can recognize the various Buddhist sects by the style of inscription. "Frogs" - A discussion of the importance of frogs in Japanese folklore and poetry. "Of Moon Desire" - Thoughts on the Buddhist mind in corroboration with desire for the Universal. Retrospectives "First Impressions" - Thoughts on photography, faces and what it means to have a first impression. "Beauty is Memory" - Why do we remember the beautiful more than the ugly? "Sadness in Beauty" - The beauty of melancholy. "Parfum de Jeunesse" - The sexual and luring odor of youthful beauty. "Azure Psychology" - Why is blue such a rare naturally occurring color? Why does the color make us feel so strongly? "A Serenade" - An awakening by a sudden melody in the night brings emotion. "A Red Sunset" - Reflections on an impressive sunset. "Frisson" - The joy of human touch. "Vespertina Cognito" - Fear of the supernatural. "The Eternal Haunter" - Musings on a painting.