©2025 Fable Group Inc.
3.5 

Self-Portraits: Stories

By Osamu Dazai & Ralph McCarthy
Self-Portraits: Stories by Osamu Dazai & Ralph McCarthy digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Bringing together novelist Osamu Dazai’s best autobiographical shorts in a single, slim volume, Self-Portraits shows the legendary writer at his best—and worst

“Art dies the moment it acquires authority.” So said Japan’s quintessential rebel writer Osamu Dazai, who, disgusted with the hypocrisy of every kind of establishment, from the nation’s obsolete aristocracy to its posturing, warmongering generals, went his own way, even when that meant his death—and the death of others. Faced with pressure to conform, he declared his individuality to the world—in all its self-involved, self-conscious, and self-hating glory. “Art,” he wrote, “is ‘I.’”

In these short stories, collected and translated by Ralph McCarthy, we can see just how closely Dazai’s life mirrored his art, and vice versa, as the writer/narrator falls from grace, rises to fame, and falls again. Addiction, debt, shame, and despair dogged Dazai until his self-inflicted death, and yet despite all the lies and deception he resorted to in life, there is an almost fanatical honesty to his writing. And that has made him a hero to generations of readers who see laid bare, in his works, the painful, impossible contradictions inherent in the universal commandment of social life—fit in and do as you are told—as well as the possibility, however desperate, of defiance.

Long out of print, these stories will be a revelation to the legions of new fans of No Longer Human, The Setting Sun, and The Flowers of Buffoonery

Download the free Fable app

app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities
app book lists

Stay organized

Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
app book recommendations

Build a better TBR

Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
app book reviews

Rate and review

Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
app comments

Curate your feed

Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities

60 Reviews

3.5
““To deceive someone who trusts you is to enter a hell that can take you to the brink of madness.” “People do not necessarily think and consider in a prescribed way before choosing the path they'll walk. For the most part they simply wander, at some point, into a different meadow.” “Young men, if ever the one you love bursts out laughing the moment she sees you, you are to be congratulated.” This is a hauntingly introspective collection that blurs the line between fiction and memoir, offering readers a window into the author’s complex psyche. This book feels deeply personal, as if Dazai is holding nothing back, laying bare his struggles with identity, alienation, and despair. Each piece is infused with a raw vulnerability that makes it impossible to look away, even when the subject matter becomes heavy. What makes this collection so compelling is Dazai’s ability to channel his inner turmoil into artful prose. His writing is sharp, self-aware, and unflinchingly honest, yet it’s laced with a dark humor that provides moments of levity amidst the existential weight. Through his self-portraits, Dazai examines the human condition with a mix of cynicism and empathy, leaving readers with a lingering sense of melancholy and understanding. The recurring themes of alienation and self-doubt make this a challenging read at times, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Dazai's reflections feel timeless and relatable, especially for anyone who has ever wrestled with their sense of self or felt out of place in the world. While some entries resonate more strongly than others, the overall impact of the collection is profound. It’s not just a glimpse into Dazai’s mind—it’s an exploration of the human soul at its most fragile and resilient. For fans of introspective literature and existential musings, Self-Portraits is an unforgettable journey through the thoughts of one of Japan’s most enigmatic authors. Dazai’s voice is both haunting and beautiful, and this collection is a testament to his literary brilliance.”

About Osamu Dazai

Osamu Dazai was born in 1909 into a powerful landowning family of northern Japan. A brilliant student, he entered the French department of Tokyo University in 1930, but later boasted that in the five years before he left without a degree, he had never attended a lecture. Dazai was famous for confronting head-on the social and moral crises of postwar Japan before he committed suicide by throwing himself into Tokyo’s Tamagawa Aqueduct. His body was found on what would have been his 39th birthday.

Ralph McCarthy

Ralph McCarthy has lived in Japan for almost two decades. He is the translator of many short stories by Osamu Dazai and of Ryu Murakami’s novel 69.

Start a Book Club

Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!

FAQ

Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?

Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?

How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?

Do you sell physical books too?

Are book clubs free to join on Fable?

How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?

Error Icon
Save to a list
0
/
30
0
/
100
Private List
Private lists are not visible to other Fable users on your public profile.
Notification Icon
Fable uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB