Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country captivates with its exquisite prose and evocative descriptions of Japan's mountainous region. Critics laud its lyrical beauty and deep exploration of human emotions. However, some find the narrative's slow pace and ambiguity challenging. Overall, Kawabata's novel is celebrated for its artistic merit and melancholic depth.

Fans of lyrical prose, introspective narratives, and evocative settings will admire Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country. Readers who appreciate the nuanced exploration of human emotions found in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day or the delicate beauty in Haruki Murakami's works will find this novel compelling.

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata, set on the snowy northwestern coast of Japan, follows the doomed romance between Shimamura, a wealthy married man, and Komako, a geisha. Their relationship unfolds in and around an onsen, exploring themes of love, isolation, and the ephemeral nature of beauty against the backdrop of rural Japan's harsh winters. The book includes discussions of sex work and suicide.

Melancholic / Mysterious / Contemplative / Bittersweet / Serene

- Snow Country was the first novel by Yasunari Kawabata, published in 1937, to gain international recognition, contributing to his winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968.
- The novel is noted for its poetic prose and vivid imagery, often drawing comparisons to traditional Japanese arts such as haiku and kabuki.
- Snow Country is set in a remote onsen town, reflecting Kawabata's own fascination with rural Japan and capturing the transient beauty and melancholy of the changing seasons.

Yasunari Kawabata

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

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Overview

Get ready to explore Snow Country and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Snow Country Summary

Background

Snow Country Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Pages 1-38

Snow Country Part 1, Pages 1-38 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Pages 39-88

Snow Country Part 1, Pages 39-88 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Pages 89-145

Snow Country Part 2, Pages 89-145 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Pages 150-174

Snow Country Part 2, Pages 150-174 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Snow Country Character Analysis

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Themes

Snow Country Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Snow Country Symbols & Motifs

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Important Quotes

Snow Country Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Snow Country Essay Topics

Snow Country

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

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Who Should Read Snow Country?

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Book Details