Lafcadio Hearn’s Japan

Lafcadio Hearn is the most significant early interpreter of Japan and Japanese culture for the West--a man who traveled to Japan when he was thirty-nine, and never left. Lafcadio Hearn's Japan presents Hearn's most famous stories and essays about his adopted land--recounting his love for its striking natural beauty and the rich character and customs of its people.

The 18 fascinating essays in this book include:

• "In a Japanese Garden" Hearn's classic description of the meditative calm and serenity he experienced when visiting a traditional Zen garden just outside his back door
• "Strangeness and Charm" Expressing his deep love for the richness and beauty of traditional Japanese culture
• "In the Cave of the Children's Ghosts" An account of a journey to an isolated sea cave where the souls of dead children are said to congregate