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Old 18-Sep-2008, 21:05
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Default Re: Mishima Yukio: The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea

Quote:
Originally Posted by fausto View Post
Like Morten, I adore this novel. Probably not his best, but my favourite. The tetralogy is fantastic, but there is no way in the world the last two volumes are better than The sailor... Now, the first two really are something. The third is a rather big disappointment and at times a turgid essay on reincarnation in buddhist tradition. The fourth is better, although not up there with the rest. Mandatory read anyway.

I agree; The Sailor is also my favourite (although tied, perhaps, with his stunning short story collection Acts of Worship). The second novel in the Sea of Fertility, Runaway Horses, is amazing but I felt as though the last two betrayed Mishima's unraveling hold on reality (esp. now that I've read John Nathan's biography of him).
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