Description
An Artist of the Floating World is a novel by Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro. The story is narrated by Masuji Ono, an aging Japanese painter who reflects on his past, particularly his role as a propaganda artist during World War II. The book explores how individuals reconcile their personal history with the collective memory and changing values of a nation.
Key Themes:
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- Memory and the past.
- National identity and post-war Japan.
- The nature of artistic responsibility.
The purpose of this novel is to delve into the complex process of confronting one’s past and the struggle to find one’s place in a world that has moved on. It is intended to be a poignant and thought-provoking look at regret, legacy, and the relationship between personal and political history.
