Tales of economic prosperity - Keikokubidan

A full-length novel by Yano Ryukei. Its correct title is "Seibu Meishi Keikoku Bidan." The first part was published in March 1883 (Meiji 16), and the second part in February 1884. Ryukei was the president of the company at the time, and a senior member of the Kaishinto Party. Based on ancient Greek history, it tells the story of the Theban heroes Epaminondas and Pelopidas, who fought for their country's independence and civil stability against Spartan oppression, and fell into many perils, but managed to protect the country's fortunes, defeating the Spartan army at the Battle of Leuctra in 371 BC, and finally seizing hegemony over all of Greece. Ryukei said that he had intended to give readers the pleasure of reading both the official history and the novel at the same time. The novel makes use of techniques from works such as "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Legend of the Eight Dogs," including the character descriptions of Epaminondas and others.

[Yasushi Oka]

"The Beautiful Tales of Economics" (included in the Complete Works of Contemporary Japanese Literature, Volume 3, Political Novels, 1965, Kodansha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

矢野龍渓(りゅうけい)の長編小説。正しくは『斉武名士経国美談』。1883年（明治16）3月前編、翌84年2月後編、ともに報知社刊。龍渓は当時同社社長で、改進党の幹部。古代ギリシア史に題材を求め、テーベの英雄エパミノンダス、ペロピダスらがスパルタの強圧に抗して、自国の独立、民政の安定のために戦い、幾多の危難に陥ったが、よく国運を守りぬき、紀元前371年のレウクトラの戦いではスパルタ軍を大破し、ついにギリシア全土の覇権を握るまでを描く、歴史的政治小説。龍渓は、読者に正史と小説とを同時に読む喜びを与えようとくふうしたと語っている。エパミノンダスらの性格描写をはじめ全編『三国志』『八犬伝』などの手法を生かしている。

［岡　保生］

『「経国美談」（『日本現代文学全集3　政治小説集』所収・1965・講談社）』

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