The heartbreaking story of two orphans fighting for survival at the end of World War Two, published in English for the first time.In the dying days of the War, Seita and Setsuko must fend for themselves. Firebombs have obliterated their home in Kobe, leaving them searching for shelter and scrambling to survive in the depths of the countryside. But, as their suffering becomes a constant companion, so do the lights of the fireflies - shining from the bomber planes, and the insects glowing by the lake at night.This unforgettable semi-autobiographical tale by Akiyuki Nosaka won him the Naoki Prize, cementing his place in the Japanese cultural canon. Published here for the first time as a standalone story, Grave of the Fireflies illuminates the untold sorrows of normal people who live in the shadow of war.
Powerfully, in the earliest of pages, we discover how this story ends. A fragile, haunting novella and the source of Ghibli’s seminal Grave of the Fireflies, this book is a profoundly sad and precious gift. In this beautiful translation, its quiet power and unflinching honesty are preserved — a timeless reminder of a past that must never be forgotten -- Phelim McDermott, director of My Neighbour Totoro
A beautiful and sensitive translation, Grave of the Fireflies is monumentally heartbreaking. With the current state of the world and how suffering, malnourished children displaced by war are once again in the news, it has developed a profound resonance and relevance. I wish stories like this were unnecessary, but that is sadly not the case. -- Tom Morton-Smith, playwright and writer of My Neighbour Totoro
Powerfully, in the earliest of pages, we discover how this story ends. A fragile, haunting novella and the source of Ghibli’s seminal Grave of the Fireflies, this book is a profoundly sad and precious gift. In this beautiful translation, its quiet power and unflinching honesty are preserved — a timeless reminder of a past that must never be forgotten -- Phelim McDermott
Akiyuki Nosaka (Author)Akiyuki Nosaka (1930-2015) was a novelist, singer, lyricist and former member of the House of Councillors in Japan. Born in Kamakura, Kanagawa, his memories of living through the Second World War - including the loss of his adoptive father in the 1945 Kobe bombings - served as the inspiration for his most famous short stories. In 1967, he won the Naoki Prize for Grave of the Fireflies and American Hijiki, both based on the Japanese experience of the War. Nosaka also wrote erotic fiction, including The Pornographers (1963), and in later life he continued his career as a newspaper and TV journalist, as well as a politician and chanson singer.Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator)Ginny Tapley Takemori is an award-winning translator based in rural Japan. She has translated works by writers including SayakaMurata, Kyoko Nakajima, and Mayumi Inaba.
This item is eligible for simple returns within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping is the responsibility of the customer. See our returns policy for further details.
