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After Dark (novel)
Encyclopedia
is a novel by Japan
ese author Haruki Murakami
. It was originally published in 2004.
, a recurring motif in the works of Murakami, is the central theme in this novel set in metropolitan Tokyo
over the course of one night. Main characters include Mari, a 19-year-old student, who is spending the night reading in a Denny's
. There she meets Takahashi, a trombone-playing student who loves Curtis Fuller
's "Five Spot After Dark" song on Blues-ette; Takahashi knows Mari's sister Eri and insists that the group of them have hung out before. Meanwhile, Eri is in a deep sleep.
Mari crosses ways with a retired female wrestler, now working as a manager in a love hotel
(whom Takahashi knows and referred to Mari), a Chinese prostitute who has been beaten and stripped of everything in this same love hotel, and a sadistic computer expert. Parts of the story take place in a world between reality and dream.
, a special limited-edition hardback version exists, only available at Borders
bookshops. In 2007 a Romanian version was also published by Polirom
under the title In noapte. A Norwegian version was published in 2007 by Pax, translated by Ika Kaminka. A Portuguese version was released on November 2008 under the title Os Passageiros da Noite ("The Night Passengers"). In 2009 a Brazilian Portuguese version was released, titled Após o Anoitecer. A Serbian version was published in 2008; the translator was Nataša Tomić, and it was published under the title Kad padne noć. A Persian version was published in 2009 by Ketebsaraye Nik, translated by Mahdi Ghabraee under the title Pas az tariki. An Italian version was also released in 2008 by Einaudi
, translated by Antonietta Pastore under the title After Dark. The Spanish translation by Lourdes Porta, titled also After Dark, was published in 2008 by Tusquets Editores under "Andanzas" series. In 2009, a Hebrew version translated by Mickey Ball was released by Kinneret Zmora Dvir. In 2009 Lithuanian version was published under the name Pernakt. It was translated by Ieva Susnytė.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese author Haruki Murakami
Haruki Murakami
is a Japanese writer and translator. His works of fiction and non-fiction have garnered him critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the Franz Kafka Prize and Jerusalem Prize among others.He is considered an important figure in postmodern literature...
. It was originally published in 2004.
Plot summary
AlienationSocial alienation
The term social alienation has many discipline-specific uses; Roberts notes how even within the social sciences, it “is used to refer both to a personal psychological state and to a type of social relationship”...
, a recurring motif in the works of Murakami, is the central theme in this novel set in metropolitan Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
over the course of one night. Main characters include Mari, a 19-year-old student, who is spending the night reading in a Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
. There she meets Takahashi, a trombone-playing student who loves Curtis Fuller
Curtis Fuller
Curtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
's "Five Spot After Dark" song on Blues-ette; Takahashi knows Mari's sister Eri and insists that the group of them have hung out before. Meanwhile, Eri is in a deep sleep.
Mari crosses ways with a retired female wrestler, now working as a manager in a love hotel
Love hotel
A love hotel is a type of short-stay hotel found around the world operated primarily for the purpose of allowing couples privacy for sexual activities...
(whom Takahashi knows and referred to Mari), a Chinese prostitute who has been beaten and stripped of everything in this same love hotel, and a sadistic computer expert. Parts of the story take place in a world between reality and dream.
Structure
The story is broken down in small chapters of varying length. An added element of interest—and perhaps a post-modern reference—is the fact that the book has a 'real-time' timeline, beginning at the early hours of the night.Translations
A Russian version was published in 2005, a Dutch version in 2006, Czech and Polish versions in 2007. The Chinese (traditional characters) version was published in 2005 and translated by Lai Ming-chu (:zh:賴明珠), and the Chinese (simplified characters) version was published in 2005 and translated by Lin Shaohua (林少華 / 林少华) . It was published in French on January 4, 2007, as Le passage de la nuit by Éditions Belfond. An English translation was released on May 8, 2007. In the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, a special limited-edition hardback version exists, only available at Borders
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
bookshops. In 2007 a Romanian version was also published by Polirom
Polirom
Polirom or Editura Polirom is a Romanian publishing house with a tradition of publishing classics of international literature and also various titles in the fields of social sciences, such as psychology, sociology and anthropology. The company was founded in February 1995. The first title...
under the title In noapte. A Norwegian version was published in 2007 by Pax, translated by Ika Kaminka. A Portuguese version was released on November 2008 under the title Os Passageiros da Noite ("The Night Passengers"). In 2009 a Brazilian Portuguese version was released, titled Após o Anoitecer. A Serbian version was published in 2008; the translator was Nataša Tomić, and it was published under the title Kad padne noć. A Persian version was published in 2009 by Ketebsaraye Nik, translated by Mahdi Ghabraee under the title Pas az tariki. An Italian version was also released in 2008 by Einaudi
Einaudi
Einaudi may refer to;*Giulio Einaudi , an Italian publisher**Giulio Einaudi editore, now an imprint of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore*Luigi Einaudi , an Italian politician*His son Mario Einaudi , an Italian political scientist...
, translated by Antonietta Pastore under the title After Dark. The Spanish translation by Lourdes Porta, titled also After Dark, was published in 2008 by Tusquets Editores under "Andanzas" series. In 2009, a Hebrew version translated by Mickey Ball was released by Kinneret Zmora Dvir. In 2009 Lithuanian version was published under the name Pernakt. It was translated by Ieva Susnytė.