"The papers composing this volume treat of the inner rather than of the outer life of Japan, for which reason they have been grouped under the title Kokoro (heart). [This] word signifies also mind, in the emotional sense; spirit; courage; resolve; sentiment; affection; and inner meaning, just as we say in English, "the heart of things." --Lafcadio Hearn As an interpreter of Japan for the West, Lafcadio Hearn has no peer. His books are still read with fascination by foreigners and Japanese alike--a tribute to his keen powers of observation and the vividness of his prose. Kokoro is Hearn's love letter to Japan--his exploration of the genius of Japanese civilization and the wonder he felt at encountering these islands and their inhabitants. The 15 extraordinary stories in this book include:

• "Kimiko"-- A beautiful geisha hatches a desperate plan to save her mother from poverty but then must make a heartbreaking choice.
• "A Conservative"-- A samurai's son embraces the West and travels to Europe but finds his new home to be a shallow and faithless land.
• "A Street Singer"-- A woman captivates crowds with the beauty of her voice, but her life story goes much deeper than her musical talents.
• "By Force of Karma"-- The peculiar tale of a Buddhist priest who receives a letter from a mysterious woman and ultimately takes his own life.

>Kokoro includes an informative foreword by Patricia Welch which highlights how, 125 years later, our understanding of Japan can still be deepened by Hearn's heartfelt prose.