Shimada Seijiro

Novelist. Born in Ishikawa Prefecture. Dropped out of Kanazawa Second Middle School and Kanazawa Commercial School. While living a wandering life, he wrote the novel "Chi wo koyuru" (Beyond the Earth) (1917), which was published through the introduction of poet and critic Akegarasu Haya, and became a reporter for the Kyoto newspaper "Chugai Nippo". In 1918 (Taisho 7), he completed the first part of "Chūji" (Land on Earth), and the following year, with the recommendation of Ikuta Choko, it was published by Shinchosha. It depicts a genius protagonist who rebels against society and falls in love, and it resonates with idealistic young people, resulting in extraordinary sales. However, the second and third parts, which were published later, became more conceptual, and were left unfinished. After a trip to Europe in 1947, he became known for his eccentric behavior, and died in obscurity in a psychiatric hospital. His other works include a collection of short stories "Taibi" (1920) and a collection of essays "Shukatsu wo mae shite" (1922).

[Yamada Shunji]

"The Earth - What Lies in the Earth" (1973, Kisetsusha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

小説家。石川県の生まれ。旧制金沢二中、金沢商業学校中退。放浪生活のなかから小説『地を超ゆる』（1917）を執筆、歌人で評論家の暁烏敏(あけがらすはや)の紹介で公表され、京都『中外日報』記者となる。1918年（大正7）『地上』第一部を脱稿、翌年生田長江(いくたちょうこう)の推挙で新潮社から刊行された。天才肌の主人公が社会に反抗し、恋愛する姿を描き、理想主義的な青年の共感を得て、異常な売れ行きを示す。しかし、続刊された第二部、第三部では概念的になり、未完に終わる。22年欧州旅行後は奇矯な言動が目だち、不遇のうちに精神科病院で没した。ほかに短編集『大望』（1920）、評論集『勝利を前にして』（1922）がある。

［山田俊治］

『『地上――地に潜むもの』（1973・季節社）』

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