Sōseki, Natsume (1867–1916)

Japanese novelist. His works are deep psychological studies of urban intellectual lives. Strongly influenced by English literature, his later works are somewhat reminiscent of Henry James; for example, the unfinished Meian/Light and Darkness (1916). Sōseki is regarded as one of Japan's greatest writers.

Sōseki was born in Tokyo and studied English literature there and (1900–03) in the UK. He became well known with his debut novel, Wagahai wa neko de aru/I Am a Cat 1905, followed by the humorous Botchan 1906, but found a more serious, sensitive style in his many later novels, such as Sore kara/And Then 1909. He also studied classical Chinese literature and Zen Buddhism and wrote on literary theory.