Botchan Author:Soseki Natsume, Umeji Sasaki (Translator) First published in 1904, this book tells the story of Botchan, the younger son of a middle class Tokyo family. His older brother is the obvious favorite of both parents and Botchan grows up demanding attention for himself, and succeeding in attracting it by a series of misdeeds. Following the early death of his mother, it is the servant, Kiyo, w... more »ho provides the only love and understanding he is to know. When his father dies, Botchan's brother gives him a small portion of the legacy and disclaims any further family responsibility.
Thus, Botchan's story begins. With careful use of his money, Botchan drifts through his higher education and into his first job - that of a mathematics teacher in Shikoku, far away from Tokyo.... Thrust into the environment of a country school, there is nothing but trouble for Botchan - troble with his landlord, with the students, with his fellow teachers to whom he gives delightful nicknames. Botchan is anything but polite in his thinking and relationships with Porcupine, Green Squash, Badger, Red-Shirt and others who make up the parade of characters who insist on intruding in his own plans.
Today we would call Botchan a "loner". In his time he would have been described as an individualist. Whatever the designation, his qualities as a person have won him a lasting place in twentieth century literature.