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301 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
26 people are currently reading
1,251 people want to read
About the author
Shūsaku Endō
374?books1,000?followersShusaku Endo (远藤周作), born in Tokyo in 1923, was raised by his mother and an aunt in Kobe where he converted to Roman Catholicism at the age of eleven. At Tokyo's Keio University he majored in French literature, graduating BA in 1949, before furthering his studies in French Catholic literature at the University of Lyon in France between 1950 and 1953. A major theme running through his books, which have been translated into many languages, including English, French, Russian and Swedish, is the failure of Japanese soil to nurture the growth of Christianity. Before his death in 1996, Endo was the recipient of a number of outstanding Japanese literary awards: the Akutagawa Prize, Mainichi Cultural Prize, Shincho Prize, and Tanizaki Prize.
(from the backcover of Volcano).
(from the backcover of Volcano).
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August 2, 2024
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April 29, 2025
? Some say a person who experiences significant cross currents in their life will produce an unusual and significant art. Suppose you were raised atheist, became Sunni, but then chose to embrace a form of Tibetan Buddhism for the last ten years of your life. In those final years you expressed your beliefs in haiku poetry as well as Japanese-style pen and ink drawings of trees and blossoms and ponds. What would those drawings and poems reflect?
Shusaku Endo was a Japanese novelist but also a Catholic novelist, a rare mix. Into this novel wanders a tall man named Gaston who is used to being bullied and ridiculed yet remains gentle as a lamb and seeks to befriend all - prostitutes, fortune tellers, even a gangster. He risks his life to try to prevent Endo the criminal from killing a man Endo believes is responsible for the death of his brother.
Gaston stands in the way of the ensuing violence and seeks to end it. Blows rain down upon him and blood pours out. Yet afterward, he cannot be found. There is no trace of him. There is no body. But one man notices a single white egret flying serenely through a cobalt blue sky.
Reading the novel is a journey of the spirit.
Shusaku Endo was a Japanese novelist but also a Catholic novelist, a rare mix. Into this novel wanders a tall man named Gaston who is used to being bullied and ridiculed yet remains gentle as a lamb and seeks to befriend all - prostitutes, fortune tellers, even a gangster. He risks his life to try to prevent Endo the criminal from killing a man Endo believes is responsible for the death of his brother.
Gaston stands in the way of the ensuing violence and seeks to end it. Blows rain down upon him and blood pours out. Yet afterward, he cannot be found. There is no trace of him. There is no body. But one man notices a single white egret flying serenely through a cobalt blue sky.
Reading the novel is a journey of the spirit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2014
Essentially a Christ parable set in post WWII Japan, wherein a French doofus with a horse face enters the lives of two Japanese siblings with the intention of doing freelance missionary work. There's a Kurosawa-like descent through urban underbellies (the harrowing of Hell) and an ultimate apotheosis in the form of a white egret (resurrection); and also, to lighten the load, flatulus japonica jokes are in abundance (the Fool's nickname is "Gas"). Despite the transparent Spielbergian mastery of manipulative plot machinations and its thoroughly preordained storyline (no room for discoveries during composition), I was very moved by the story, due to a profoundly affecting and pathetic sequence with a stray dog and my own metaphysical optimism.
March 11, 2017
I didn't expect this book to be so good, gripping and telling when I first read about it. Shūsaku Endō did a great job on changing one's way of looking at the love and hate in the world. I just wish more people would be like Gaston. That'd wonderful.
December 28, 2011
Endo is the master of the well written novel. In spite of the emotional heart of his novel, he keeps all the elements of fiction in mind and develops a perfect plot. Wonderful Fool is about post war Japan and the swamp of hatred and spiritual bankruptcy which plagued people. I have finished a translation of this novel into Arabic (based on the English translation) and the reason for my choice is the situation in my country Iraq right now. I am amazed at how history repeats itself.
October 31, 2023
This has the typical flaws to be found in some of Endo's books - sentimentality, a bit too much use of coincidence in the plot, and a tendency to spell things out a little more than necessary. These flaws are mitigated by his dry humour, often gritty realism, and the fact that he is a truly great writer of character and narrative. I liked the way in which Endo casts himself as the "villain" in this. Only the character of the "wonderful fool" himself did not quite work for me but I still found this a very compelling read and finished it in a couple of days.
June 15, 2017
Honestly, this book gives me a quite major confusion as the author basically "charts his misadventures with irony, satire and humanity" so to give a review like how I usually do is quite challenging and even now I can't explicitly point out the ironic and the 'satire' part of the book.... The book nevertheless intrigued me so much that I often find myself unable to stop flicking the page. It's about a simplistic guy who I assumed was extremely na?ve about the world and too innocent, could change the other character's perception on life. A lot of significant character development shown especially towards the two of the main characters of this book, Takamori and Tomoe whom struggle on finding their aspirations in life and love; too caught up in career and materialism. This na?ve guy—the wonderful fool, Gaston Bonaparte went through journey of befriending prostitutes, street children, stray dogs, to gangsters that had no fear on murdering him. Regardless of his (sometimes i think) stupidity, he still gave me a moment of reflection on how his kindness, love and most of all sincerity can dim fear and hatred in the world no matter what. It does take time, but it works and it always win. The book is majorly about humanity and I would recommend you to read it if you lose hope in humanity.
March 28, 2022
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July 11, 2022
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October 18, 2010
Before I began reading Wonderful Fool, I was a little lukewarm on modern Japanese literature. I have read the classics like The Tale of Genji, and other classical works, and also some modern-ish authors, as well as Endo's Silence. Wonderful Fool is certainly one of the best books in the modern Japanese literature pantheon.
At first glance, it seemed to me like there wasn't much point to the whole thing. I think that's where Endo wanted us to go. But towards the end, things really start to come together in a way that makes it not only a really comfortable story, but also makes it really profound.
As a warning: if you haven't read Japanese literature before, there will be some things that you may feel a little strange about. I won't go into them now. However, Endo studied literature in France, so there are a lot of Western techniques that he uses, like the Christ figure being central to the story.
In all, if there was one thing that I would change about this book, it would be to make it more popular. More people need to read this book.
At first glance, it seemed to me like there wasn't much point to the whole thing. I think that's where Endo wanted us to go. But towards the end, things really start to come together in a way that makes it not only a really comfortable story, but also makes it really profound.
As a warning: if you haven't read Japanese literature before, there will be some things that you may feel a little strange about. I won't go into them now. However, Endo studied literature in France, so there are a lot of Western techniques that he uses, like the Christ figure being central to the story.
In all, if there was one thing that I would change about this book, it would be to make it more popular. More people need to read this book.
October 12, 2016
This was a whimsical, wonderful novel that caught me by surprise (not least because of its dour cover which bears no relation to its contents...just a weird pair of photos of the author!). In Gaston the eccentric Frenchman who visits Japan, Endo has created one of the stranger and more memorable characters that a reader will encounter in contemporary Japanese fiction.
There are many humourous scenes, as when Gaston stumbles into a "love hotel" in Shibuya while searching for accommodation, and some thrilling action scenes toward the end as well.
Endo's descriptions of Tokyo in the 50s are vivid and striking, and yet verging on the grotesque, symbolic or caricatured. His Tokyo is like the London of Dickens. Characters are larger than life, grotty settings are ultra-grotty, and no one is too nice to anyone else (apart from one big exception...).
An easy read, and a quick one, but worthwhile.
There are many humourous scenes, as when Gaston stumbles into a "love hotel" in Shibuya while searching for accommodation, and some thrilling action scenes toward the end as well.
Endo's descriptions of Tokyo in the 50s are vivid and striking, and yet verging on the grotesque, symbolic or caricatured. His Tokyo is like the London of Dickens. Characters are larger than life, grotty settings are ultra-grotty, and no one is too nice to anyone else (apart from one big exception...).
An easy read, and a quick one, but worthwhile.
September 11, 2022
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August 1, 2021
I loved the beginning of this book , i thought the siblings would be the main characters but by the time we meet " the wonderful fool" , i just didn't care about him at all as an MC. Not only that, he has a bigger plot armor than shonen protaganist and that tend to annoy me in " realistic " media.
Literally, everyone else in this book is more interesting than Gas and I wish the book was about them.
At the very least, it kinda explored the paradox of the selfishness of selfless people which was decent enough.
And from the theological lense ( Christian theology to be precise) , this is a pretty good parallel to the story of Jesus Christ.
Literally, everyone else in this book is more interesting than Gas and I wish the book was about them.
At the very least, it kinda explored the paradox of the selfishness of selfless people which was decent enough.
And from the theological lense ( Christian theology to be precise) , this is a pretty good parallel to the story of Jesus Christ.
June 22, 2020
People who like the sordid underside of things will enjoy the hookers, gangsters, beggars, stray mongrels and unpunished war criminals that Shusaku Endo selected to surround the titular French lummox in Shusaku’s 1959 novel, Wonderful Fool. Think of the French lummox as a sturdier, less refined Prince Myshkin. The lumbering lummox arrives in Tokyo on a tramp steamer to impose upon the hospitality of a pair of bourgeoisie Japanese siblings, one an ambitious young woman, the other her feckless older brother. Gaston, a remote descendent of Napoleon, ditches the decent siblings and sets off on a quest for transformation through befriending the dregs of postwar castoffs. Most nights, Gaston shares lodging with these elevating lower companions in hour-rate hotels that either double as brothels or were formerly houses of prostitution. The pace and characters scuttle along like the best of Raymond Chandler, only without Philip Marlowe hogging up the point of view, and ending with a full stop invitation to wonder.
November 3, 2008
I found this novel to be a sweet discovery. This story of how a Japanese family is affected when they are visited by a descendant of Napoleon serves, among other things, as a satire of modern Tokyo of the 60's, a society that in many regards reflects our own. Saying much more would destroy the reading experience. Even now, I wonder if I've said too much. My quandary is how to sell the book without building up the reader's expectations to the point that they can only be disappointed when they read it. Just go read it, and leaver your expectations behind.
P. S. Don't read any introductory material until after you finish the book.
P. S. Don't read any introductory material until after you finish the book.
September 23, 2015
Japanese books have an odd charm to them. The plot device and language are deceptively simple and make what might seem like a breezy read, but certain moments make you pause and remark about humanity in general. Endo, like other Japanese authors I have read, is sympathetic towards good hearted people who don't finish first in life, making the fiction a refreshing change from what I'm used to. The turn of events in the book is entertaining and I felt like I was watching a movie -- making me excited for Scorsese's upcoming adaptation. However, ambiguous endings characteristic of Japanese authors never fail to annoy me, and the lack of a climax at the last page leaves me unsatisfied.
September 6, 2016
When I began this one I wondered if I would enjoy it as much as I did other Endo books like The Samurai and The Girl I Left Behind. Slowly, the titular character, a Frenchman visiting Japan slowly transforms from a gangly, bumbling foreigner to a sort of Christ figure, leading to a surprisingly satisfying ending. Good stuff for a sort of second tier Endo.
July 12, 2022
I was not really expecting much of this book, but it truly gripped me. Poetic in substance, bizarre in premise and a brilliant pageturner, one can't help but appreciate this strange, giant Frenchman putting his mark on 1960s Japan.
September 1, 2017
I enjoyed both the glimpse into post-war modern Japan and the Catholic threads that ran throughout this book. Satisfying read.
March 21, 2018
Wonderful little novel by an author whose work was unknown to me.
February 7, 2019
A spare and beautiful novel about the possibilities of redemption and the meaning of humanity.
December 15, 2022
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August 5, 2022
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?????? ????? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ????? ???????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ?"????? ??????" ????? ?????? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????! ??? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????? ??????? ????????? ??? ??? ??????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ??? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?????? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ????? ????? ????? (??? ?????? ????? ?????? ?????? ?????) ???? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ??????.
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February 11, 2024
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November 19, 2022
Looooved this. 5 stars.
May 3, 2023
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November 30, 2016
As ponderous and repetitive as "Silence". This is the story of Gaston Bonaparte, a huge and ungainly fellow from Savoy who, for reasons unknown, arrives one day in Japan, apparently expecting his former pen-pal Takamori to put him up. Although flummoxed by Gaston's cheek, the spendthrift Takamori, his bossy sister Tomoe and their widowed mother do everything they can to welcome him with the customary Japanese hospitality. But in fact, Gaston has no intention of staying put with his hosts. Gentle and unworldly, Gaston, who is in every respect the opposite of his famous ancestor, starts by adopting a flea-riddled cur, and then insists on leaving his non-plussed hosts in the middle of the night. Various adventures with prostitutes and fortune-tellers follow. Eventually Gaston attaches himself to a graduate turned contract killer who is on a mission to execute officers responsible for his brother's death before he himself succumbs to tuberculosis. Takamori and Tomoe, who've grown to cherish and respect the odd Frenchman and feel responsible for him, try in vain to catch up with him as he shadows Endo (the thug) to prevent him from carrying out the murders he's planned. Of course, the siblings arrive too late: having prevailed on Endo at the last minute, Gaston is nowhere to be found. Takamori accepts that Endo's vision of an egret represents Gaston's temporary departure from this world. This is as heavy-handed as it gets. We learn at the very end of the book that Gaston came to Japan because, having failed his theological exams 3 times, he couldn't let go of his vocation as a missionary, but long before that it has become crashingly obvious that he is a new Christ. Your taste has to run to the turgidly allegorical to like this book, but it is just about possible that it would read a little better in a different translation. While there are many references in the story that would benefit from some clarification, this translator only adds footnotes for the obvious. For instance, in a self-explanatory discussion between a fishmonger and his customer, he tells us in a footnote that "sawara" is "a kind of fish". No kidding!
July 26, 2021
I’m so glad I gave Shusaku Endo another shot. This was such an illuminating and impactful read. Some of its lesson might be interpreted as allegorical, but this is such a powerful social commentary that reflected Japan of its era and is still so, if not more relevant today as humans become more complex and self centred.
??????????
“To be a saint or a man of too good a nature in today's pragmatic world, with everyone out to get the other fellow, was equivalent to being a fool, wasn't it?”
You’ll be hard pressed to find someone like Gaston Bonaparte (Gas), the protagonist of Wonderful Fool. Simple minded, trusting and always showing love even to the most questionable people. Throw in a superficial family in the form of Gas’ pen pal Takemoto, a revenge seeking gangster out to kill, a fraud fortune teller and a few sympathetic streetwalkers who gave Gas refuge, and you have a psychedelic adventure of innocence pitted against harshness of a “real world”. A #bookreview from Japan Times stated how “Endo makes things more complex by adding a satirical commentary on the materialism and spiritual emptiness of 1950s Japan, which is so incisive that it still resonates today” and it’s so aptly put.
Writing about the (mis)adventures of a foreigner from a local lands, Endo carefully constructed deep seated prejudices and tensions of post-war Japan (Gas as a Frenchmen was often assumed as an American and met with disdain). Less talked about though, is also the brilliant portrayal of toxic masculinity and having Gas’ good nature juxtaposed against conventional male behaviour in Japan really brought it to light and provided lots of food for thought.
Pick it up for an enlightening read. And while you’re at it, recommend me another #japaneseliterature #translatedfiction please ?
??????????
“To be a saint or a man of too good a nature in today's pragmatic world, with everyone out to get the other fellow, was equivalent to being a fool, wasn't it?”
You’ll be hard pressed to find someone like Gaston Bonaparte (Gas), the protagonist of Wonderful Fool. Simple minded, trusting and always showing love even to the most questionable people. Throw in a superficial family in the form of Gas’ pen pal Takemoto, a revenge seeking gangster out to kill, a fraud fortune teller and a few sympathetic streetwalkers who gave Gas refuge, and you have a psychedelic adventure of innocence pitted against harshness of a “real world”. A #bookreview from Japan Times stated how “Endo makes things more complex by adding a satirical commentary on the materialism and spiritual emptiness of 1950s Japan, which is so incisive that it still resonates today” and it’s so aptly put.
Writing about the (mis)adventures of a foreigner from a local lands, Endo carefully constructed deep seated prejudices and tensions of post-war Japan (Gas as a Frenchmen was often assumed as an American and met with disdain). Less talked about though, is also the brilliant portrayal of toxic masculinity and having Gas’ good nature juxtaposed against conventional male behaviour in Japan really brought it to light and provided lots of food for thought.
Pick it up for an enlightening read. And while you’re at it, recommend me another #japaneseliterature #translatedfiction please ?
October 10, 2020
A wonderful read too...& I'm no fool, believe me.Gaston Bonaparte, an awkward & misunderstood Frenchman, visits Japan...for no obvious reason, but confounds all expectations with his inbred humanity & samaritan-spirit...even attracting a stray dog! His Japanese hosts, siblings Takamori & Tomoe, are dismayed & perplexed by his antics but soon warm to his character...& in a series of bizarre encounters with a new culture, Gaston finds himself redeemed & liberated from his burden of looking like a horse & behaving like an overgrown child.
The final pages are like a morality tale...in an almost authentic Japanese style...but the novel touches the heart with its theme of salvation through suffering.
Shusaku Endo, even in this seamless translation by Francis Mathy S.J., exhibits his gifts as a storyteller. He captures so much, so effortlessly that his writing deserves the highest accolade.I enjoyed this book so much...even though in my 45-y-old paperback copy, tbe pages were yellowed & loose as leaves in autumn...that I would recommend it to any reader who appreciates a writer with both a dramatic gift & a sardonic sense of humour. Japan comes alive even as death lurks just a step away in the mists & shadows.
The final pages are like a morality tale...in an almost authentic Japanese style...but the novel touches the heart with its theme of salvation through suffering.
Shusaku Endo, even in this seamless translation by Francis Mathy S.J., exhibits his gifts as a storyteller. He captures so much, so effortlessly that his writing deserves the highest accolade.I enjoyed this book so much...even though in my 45-y-old paperback copy, tbe pages were yellowed & loose as leaves in autumn...that I would recommend it to any reader who appreciates a writer with both a dramatic gift & a sardonic sense of humour. Japan comes alive even as death lurks just a step away in the mists & shadows.
August 18, 2013
A warmhearted tyrant
'Mudswamp [Japan]'is a term coined by Shusaku Endo. Roughly meaning (as far as I can grasp):
And the more people get involved with him--our 'martyr', the bigger the impact they are going to 'endure'. The more this scary pup is going to pay.
The first half is quite good, but at one particular point around the middle, the regale slips to some lesser degree (not by much, yet it stays that way ever since).
Warning: Stay away from the 'Introduction' by the translator. It's full of gross SPOILERS!!
'Mudswamp [Japan]'is a term coined by Shusaku Endo. Roughly meaning (as far as I can grasp):
a not so good [societal] condition considered OK for being taken for granted for too long a time [by too many people]'Wonderful Fool' is a story about people living a mudswamp life, and the fear some of them have of freeing themselves from it. All told through a simpleton who somehow always manages to inflict damages on people's dark(est) sides--relentlessly attacking their insecurities, challenging their better selves to take [more] control. At his expense.
And the more people get involved with him--our 'martyr', the bigger the impact they are going to 'endure'. The more this scary pup is going to pay.
The first half is quite good, but at one particular point around the middle, the regale slips to some lesser degree (not by much, yet it stays that way ever since).
Warning: Stay away from the 'Introduction' by the translator. It's full of gross SPOILERS!!
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