Journalist-by-trade Lafcadio Hearn used his wanderer's eye and
guileless, graceful style to provide elegant chronicles for an
English-speaking world fascinated by the exotic sensibilities of Japan.
He set himself apart from others who attempted to translate the life and
culture of this island country through his ability to reveal the truth
of his subjects artfully-flawlessly exemplifying the Japanese aesthetic
through his voice, as well as through his tale. In Kotto, first
published in 1902, Hearn placed classical fables next to his own
discoveries (of a woman's diary, for example) and reflections on the
timeless themes of life, death, and meaning, showcasing the simple
beauty and ever-present spirituality that define the Japanese ideology.
Bohemian and writer PATRICK LAFCADIO HEARN (1850-1904) was born in
Greece, raised in Ireland, and worked as newspaper reporter in the
United States before decamping to Japan. He also wrote In Ghostly Japan
(1899), and Kwaidan (1904).