Look inside

Novels

The Setting Sun

3.8(83)
Hardcover€25.50Paperback€15.50
Language
English
Available nowFree shipping
Buy Now

About the book

This powerful novel of a nation in social and moral crisis was first published by New Directions in 1956. Set in the early postwar years, The Setting Sun probes the destructive effects of war and the transition from a feudal Japan to an industrial society. The influence of Osamu Dazai's novel has made "people of the setting sun" a permanent part of the Japanese language, and his heroine, Kazuko, a young aristocrat who deliberately abandons her class, a symbol of the anomie which pervades so much of the modern world.

Editions (2)

ISBN9780811234443
PublisherNorton & Company
Publication Date11/15/22

Reviews & Ratings

83 ratings

10 reviews

3.8

Tap to filter

  • exact
    exact

    3 Followers

    3.5

    A despressing book, just like Dazai's other work.

    --slight spoilers-- This is the second novel im reading from Ozamu Dazai, and again I was pulled into a world of sorrow. Dazais Imagery is incredibly strong and every szene feels real. It pulls the reader into this world he created, very carefully. With Kazuko as the main character, who is quite unlikeable, we get to know someone who embodies the hatred toward Japan’s aristocracy after the second World War. Although most of the characters are unpleasant, even terrible human beings at times, they still are deeply sensitive, emotional, and intelligent. I couldn't help but feel pity for them. Naoji’s storyline, in particular, made me both empathize with and despise him at the same time. Thematically, I appreciated the novel’s realism, including traditional literature and art. However, the flashbacks, which Dazai uses a lot, and the occasional mention of characters who appear only once or twice made the reading experience a little difficult. This story seems like a reflection of Dazai’s own sad life, with him being the reflection of Naoji.

    Oct 6, 2025

  • rebi.wn
    rebi.wn

    4 Followers

    5.0

    Beyond perfection.

    Jan 4, 2024

  • f4iry_t4l3s
    f4iry_t4l3s

    2 Followers

    5.0

    It made me feel a lot of emotions and Naoji's letter to Kazuko just broke me.

    May 9, 2024

3 of 10 reviews

Reading is better with the READO app.

Discover books, track progress, read together.

Library

Keep track