The History of Creation and Artistic Peculiarities of Shimazaki Toson\'s Novel \"Spring\" (1908)

This paper is devoted to the analysis of the autobiographical novel "Springtime" (Haru, 1908) by the Japanese writer Shimazaki Tōson (1872-1943). Although this novel occupies a prominent place in Tōson's oeuvre, it remains understudied in the academic field of Japanese studies. Moreover, it has not yet been translated into any European language. The main aims of this research are to unveil the history of the novel's creation and to examine its artistic elements such as structure, narrative style, character portrayal, main themes and motifs. In order to achieve these purposes, several research methods is employed, including a biographical approach and close reading. In addition, the first five chapters of the novel were translated into Russian. The findings of the paper may provide a theoretical basis for further research of the life and work of Shimazaki Tōson. Keywords: Meiji literature, autobiographical novel, Shimazaki Tōson