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A Cat, a Man, and Two Women

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By Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

Publisher Description

The three pieces in this collection the novella A Cat, A Man, and Two Women and two shorter pieces The Little Kingdom and Professor Rado are lighthearted and entertaining variations on one of Tanizaki s favorite preoccupations: dominance and submission in relationships, complicated even further here by customs, public opinion, and comic grotesqueries. In the title piece, the bumbling Shozo is caught in the middle of an ongoing struggle between his ex-wife and her younger successor. Shozo would prefer to stay out of it and be peacefully left alone with his elegant tortoiseshell cat Lily, but he keeps getting dragged back into the battles and arguments. The result is an oddball love triangle centered around Lily, the only true object of Shozo's affections.

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101 Reviews

3.0

Oshin

Created about 1 month ago

Easy to read

Rai.Reads

Created about 1 month ago

“This story follows Shozo, his beloved cat Lily, his ex-wife Shinako, and his new wife Fukuko. After Shozo, with the help of his manipulative mother, drove Shinako away to marry Fukuko, Shinako plots a clever revenge. She writes a letter to Fukuko, pleading for Lily and claiming loneliness, while also hinting that Shozo’s affection for Lily surpasses anything he feels for either woman. This persuades Fukuko to convince Shozo to part with Lily, unwittingly playing into Shinako’s true intention of luring Shozo back using his attachment to the cat. Ironically, Shinako initially hated Lily, jealous of the affection Shozo showered on her instead of his wife. But when Shinako and Lily begin living together, she eventually warms up to the cat, finding solace in her company. Shozo, meanwhile, is a spineless and selfish man, but his devotion to Lily is deeply relatable as a cat lover. This book is clearly written by someone who adores cats and understands their nature. Tanizaki captures the intricacies of human and feline relationships with humor and depth, blending them into a sharp exploration of jealousy, manipulation, and love. A captivating read highly recommended if you're looking for a quick and easy read.”

serene fujiyani🍒

Created about 2 months ago