Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Author(s): Beongcheon Yu
Source: American Literary Realism, 1870-1910, Vol. 1, No. 1 (Fall, 1967), pp. 52-55
Published by: University of Illinois Press
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27747562 .
Accessed: 29/09/2014 17:16
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Literary Realism, 1870-1910.
http://www.jstor.org
I.
Hearn
A Retrospect
Studies:
in American
One of the few emigr? writers
Lafcadio
literature,
is no doubt a marginal
Hearn
Yet no other American writers of
figure.
more romantic interest and more heated debate.
his stature have elicited
Hearn controversy
The so-called
flared up soon after his death in
when
his LIFE AND LETTERS
Elizabeth
Bisland
Japan,
published
(1906).
Although her intentions were perfectly honorable,
Bisland,
glossing
over certain aspects
of his life, did her best to idealize
her erstwhile
Her version,
did not go unchallenged
friend.
however,
by another
some new facts which were often
friend George M. Gould.
Introducing
in CONCERNING
LAFCADIO
insightful but blatantly
twisted, Gould,
his attack on those vulnerable
HEARN (1908),
concentrated
sides of
was
in
Hearn's
Soon
to
this
melee
Yone
join
Noguchi,
personality.
whose
LAFCADIO
HEARN IN JAPAN (1910),
impassioned
defense,
only
contro
the whole
helped add to rather than settle the dust.
Surveying
in HEARN AND HIS BIOGRAPHERS
declared
versy, Oscar
Lewis,
(1930),
Hearn to be "the most loved and the most hated figure in recent literary
history."
often
Several
sure.
his
neglecting
difficulties
First,
art.
there to confront
are always
checkered
his
life,
colorful
one,
to be
scholars,
a
encompasses
succes
sion of periods:
French, American,
Irish, English,
Mediterranean,
of his life must
account
West
and Japanese.
Indian,
Any satisfactory
therefore
ately
ready
trace
each
and
all
of
of
growth,
his
art
these
phases
an artist.
is
even
more
and
adequately
If his
life refuses
elusive
as
we
52
proportion
to yield
attempt
a
to
53
center
a unifying
discern
translator,
in his multifarious
travel
story-teller,
II.
sense
this
lenge
to all
Recent
Hearn's
interested
Studies:
is
writer,
as
activities
teacher,
a journalist,
essayist,
thinker,
and
quite
unique
case,
posing
an
exciting
chal
students.
Biography
and Criticism
circumstances
surrounding
his
early
years.
are
54
Northwestern
doctoral
thesis,
1950); JohnAshmead,
University,
Jr.,
"The Idea of Japan 1853-1895"
doctoral
Harvard
(Unpublished
thesis,
THE JAPANESE TRADITION
IN BRITISH
1951); and Earl Miner,
University,
AND AMERICAN
Princeton U Press,
LITERATURE
(Princeton:
1958).
studies of Hearn*s
LAFCADIO
Book-length
thought are Fumio Hozumi,
HEARN'S VIEWS OF SOCIETY
the first
1949), perhaps
(Tokyo: Yuhikaku,
serious
this
of
of
Kenzo
Hearn's
and
aspect
study
Tsukijima,
philosophy,
LAFCADIO
HEARN'S VIEWS OF JAPAN (Tokyo:
of
1965)?both
Keisoshobo,
which are in Japanese
and deserve mention.
Another recent study is my
AN APE OF GODS:
THE ART AND THOUGHT
OF LAFCADIO
HEARN (Detroit:
in
Hearn's
State U Press,
achievement
Wayne
1964), which assesses
terms of his art, criticism,
and philosophy.
Primary Sources
III.
For
This
nese
ed.
better
or
and Bibliography
for worse,
Hearn
can
never
be
severed
from
Japan.
lection
of
his
stories,
cards,
etc.;
drawings,
Ichiro
ed.,
Nishizaki,
Hearn's
period.
of Hearn's
collected
several volumes
Ichiro Nishizaki
journalistic
BUYING CHRISTMAS
BARBAROUS BARBERS AND OTHER STORIES;
writings:
the United
collections
Hearn
manuscripts
and
other
items
are
scattered
(Tokyo: Hoku
Indian notebook.
all
over
Japan
and
Memorial
Museum
at Matsue.
55
in the Edward L.
(a large number of letters and other items, especially
Tinker collection
of Hearniana);
the Henry E. Huntington
Library (40
Indian notebook);
the New York Public Library
letters; and Hearn's West
items in the Berg Collec
(a number of letters and other miscellaneous
of letters and 14 manu
tion); and the Tulane University
Library (scores
Most of these letters appeared
in Bisland's
script items).
LETTERS,
some
omitted.
portions
A Prospect
Studies:
Hearn
IV.
areas
to
for
call
fresh
and
research.
vigorous
More
attempts should be made to collect
systematic
(restore in some
Hearn's
letters, which are the most important source material,
cases)
his newspaper
and thereby
gather his writings,
contributions,
especially
of his writings.
prepare a complete
bibliography
Indies
at
In biography
especially
is still inadequately
a balanced
In
the
career.
of Hearn's
account
an
meantime,
overall
of
re-examination
Hearn's
art
and
Indeed,
thought in the context of contemporary
history should continue.
there are a number of problems:
To students of American
literature?
Hearn's
(over
with
relationships
Whitman);
to
Poe,
students
G.
W.
and W.
Cable,
of American
D.
O'Connor
relation
civilization?Hearn's
use
literature?Hearn's
comparative
in conjunction
of Hearn.
In
any
with
case,
use of Japanese
scholarship,
definitive
study of Hearn's
of
Japanese
the
future
Hearn
without which
life and art.
his
materials;
and above
Evolutionism;
studies
all
need
it is difficult
of
study
the Japanese
full
to make
to expect