ENDO, SHUSAKU | Typescripts and correspondence relating to his work with the English publisher Peter Owen, 1976–1981

ENDO, SHUSAKU 

Typescripts and correspondence relating to his work with the English publisher Peter Owen, 1976–1981

'Volcano': a complete typescript of the English-language translation by Richard A. Schuchert, including Schuchert's introduction, with proof-reading corrections and textual revisions throughout, in blue ink, 192 pages, 1977; two copies of the uncorrected book-proofs, one marked as the translator's copy, the other stamped "Printers Copy," in gray wrappers, both with proof-reading and textual corrections in red and green ink.

'When I Whistle': a complete typescript of the English-language translation by Van C. Gesse, with proof-reading corrections and textual revisions throughout, in blue ink, 311 pages, 1979; a copy of the book-proof, stamped "Printers Copy," in gray wrappers, with proof corrections in red and green ink.

A significant series of 54 typed letters, two autograph letters and one autograph postcard (all in English) signed by Endo ("Shusaku Endo"), to Owen, on his writing, translators, translation rights, publications, royalties, and travel, together with autograph notes in Japanese written on three cardboard coasters; accompanied by other letters relating to Endo including one typed letter signed by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, together approximately 85 pages, various sizes, 18 September 1976 to 6 May 1981.

Some creases and light staining, some fraying at margins, two of the sets of proofs quite shaken, with wrappers detached.

Shusaku Endo (1923–1996), a Roman Catholic, was the leading member of the "third generation" of post-war Japanese novelists, coming to maturity in the mid-1950s. Endo's work came in for renewed attention with the 2016 release of Martin Scorcese's film 'Silence', based on Endo's 1966 of the same name. Graham Greene termed Endo, his coreligionist, "to my mind one of the finest living novelists."